Arla Vimmerby becomes 30% more energy efficient

A series of energy-saving initiatives in recent years has made Arla’s milk powder factory in Vimmerby, Sweden, both fossil-free and 30% more energy efficient.

Nearly 20 years have passed since Arla’s Vimmerby plant was inaugurated, then hailed as “Northern Europe’s most modern milk powder facility.” Now, the plant has been optimized for the future through a close partnership with energy provider Adven, which began in 2021.

When Adven took over the energy system in Vimmerby, the goal was to secure Arla’s supply of steam and hot water while reducing energy consumption and lowering CO₂ emissions. The new, upgraded energy system is now operational, and Arla is already seeing energy savings of 30%. Additionally, the facility has become completely fossil-free.

This improvement marks Arla’s largest single energy-saving achievement to date. The long-term goal is to reach 40% savings, equivalent to approximately 50,000 megawatt-hours per year—roughly the annual energy consumption of 2,500 households.

Today, Arla Vimmerby is one of Europe’s most advanced milk powder facilities. Its approximately 100 employees produce around 1,300 tons of milk powder every week.