Royal Avebe collaborates with Schneider Electric to optimise energy use at its Dutch plant, demonstrating a scalable model for sustainable manufacturing under existing grid constraints, and supporting its goal of cutting emissions by 30% by 2030.
Schneider Electric says it has helped Dutch plant-protein cooperative Royal Avebe electrify one of its production sites without pushing the project beyond the capacity of its existing grid connection, offering a template for manufacturers trying to cut emissions in regions where network upgrades are slow or constrained.
The Avebe facility in the Netherlands makes starch and protein ingredients from potatoes for food, animal feed, paper and adhesives. Rather than treating power supply as a fixed constraint, Avebe worked with Schneider Electric’s Advisory Services team to redesign how energy is managed across the site, combining process control, live energy data and dynamic load management into a single operating model.
According to the company, the system pulls in information from more than 1,000 points around the plant, including 542 smart medium-voltage relays, giving operators one view of both power and production. When demand on the grid rises, the platform automatically reduces or shifts electrical loads so the plant stays within its contracted limits. When renewable supply is plentiful and local grid pressure is lower, the site can absorb excess power and help support stability.
Avebe says the work supports its climate ambition of cutting emissions by 30% by 2030 while improving energy efficiency by 1.5% a year. Joyce de Vries-Pieterman, the company’s director of communication and public affairs, said further electrification is a key part of making the business more sustainable and pointed to the project as evidence that progress is possible even within the boundaries of an existing connection.
Schneider Electric framed the project as part of a wider industrial trend in which grid bottlenecks are increasingly forcing manufacturers to pair electrification with digital control and operational flexibility. The company said the approach uses EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS for process control, its Electrodynamic Controller for load orchestration, Control HMI for operator oversight and EPAS for engineering and configuration.
The project reflects a broader push across the food and grocery sector to make electrification more practical. In Australia, the Food and Grocery Council has teamed up with EnergyLink Services on guidance designed to help manufacturers build the business case for lower-emissions operations, citing energy efficiency, financial enablers and case studies as important tools. For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the Avebe example underlines a central point: where grid expansion lags, software-led load management and tighter process integration can still move electrification plans forward.
- https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/sustainability/case-study/food-ingredient-plant-implements-an-electrification-strategy-1542729259?utm_source=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/sustainability/case-study/food-ingredient-plant-implements-an-electrification-strategy-1542729259?utm_source=rss – Schneider Electric has collaborated with Dutch plant-protein cooperative Royal Avebe to electrify one of its production facilities without necessitating reinforcement of the existing electricity grid. The Avebe plant in the Netherlands produces starch products from potato starch and protein for use in food applications, as well as animal feed, paper, and adhesives. Avebe engaged Schneider Electric’s Advisory Services team to reassess the site’s energy management, resulting in an integrated electrification strategy comprising unified power and process control, real-time energy intelligence, and dynamic load management. The platform consolidates data from over 1,000 points across the site, including 542 smart medium-voltage relays, into a single operational view. When grid demand rises, the system automatically shifts electrical loads to operate within the site’s contracted grid limits and technical constraints. When renewable energy is abundant and local grid demand is low, the plant absorbs the surplus and actively supports grid stability. This electrification roadmap also contributes to Avebe’s climate targets, including a 30% emissions reduction by 2030 and continuous 1.5% annual energy-efficiency improvement. Joyce de Vries-Pieterman, Director of Communication & Public Affairs at Avebe, stated, “Further electrifying our production processes is an important step in making our operations more sustainable.” Neil Smith, President of Consumer-Packaged Goods at Schneider Electric, added, “Grid constraints need not mean decarbonisation delays. With the right combination of electrification, open automation, and digital intelligence, manufacturers can act now.” The solution includes Schneider Electric technologies such as EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS for unified process control, EcoStruxure Electrodynamic Controller for real-time load orchestration, EcoStruxure Control HMI for operator visibility and intervention, and EcoStruxure EPAS for engineering environment and configuration. This approach is designed to scale and can provide a way to advance decarbonisation plans without waiting for large-scale grid infrastructure expansion. The Avebe plant is now positioned to integrate onsite renewable generation and advanced IIoT asset monitoring as the next step, building on the digital foundation already in place.
- https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/business-solutions/news/afgc-maps-out-electrification-pathway-for-manufacturers-913826984 – The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has partnered with EnergyLink Services to create an Electrification Fact Sheet aimed at assisting Australia’s food and grocery manufacturers in decarbonising their operations. The fact sheet outlines key drivers and barriers to electrification, highlights successful electric technologies and measures already deployed, and provides practical tools for building a robust business case. It also identifies financial enablers, energy efficiency opportunities, category-specific case studies, and a practical checklist to support detailed project design. AFGC CEO Colm Maguire stated, “Food and grocery manufacturers are already taking meaningful steps to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.”
- https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/processing/case-study/making-uht-processing-less-intensive-on-energy-1689149475 – Dairy and plant-based food and beverage producers face the challenge of delivering safe, high-quality products while optimising systems for sustainability. Thermal processing, particularly ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment, is one of the most energy-intensive steps in food or dairy factories. Traditional UHT infusion systems typically use steam once and then release it, wasting its heat potential. Companies committed to energy efficiency aim to maintain product integrity and safety while making this core process more efficient and climate-friendly. Recent innovations in technology now enable plant operators to calculate the optimal mix of water, chemicals, temperature, and flow required to achieve safety standards while saving energy and reducing downtime for cleaning, as well as providing tracing and documentation.
- https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/processing/sponsored/aveva-plant-scada-2020-r2-taps-into-the-full-potential-of-the-aveva-portfolio-627422229 – As global industry accelerates plans for digital transformation and seeks reliable and flexible SCADA solutions, many companies are shifting to tightly integrated stacks of solutions to solve increasingly interconnected operational challenges. AVEVA Plant SCADA has evolved to support the future potential of operations control, delivering collaboration, skills management, deep analytics, and artificial intelligence. Industrial operations must reimagine traditional HMI/SCADA to support the future potential of operations control, and AVEVA is exploring ways to bring the familiarity of traditional HMI/SCADA software to a more integrated style of operations, centred around common information platforms and unified operations.
- https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/processing/sponsored/citect-scada-lives-on-as-aveva-plant-scada-525708938 – For over thirty-five years, Citect delivered innovative, reliable, and flexible SCADA software that enabled companies across the globe to optimise industrial processes, improve situational awareness, and make real-time decisions based on accurate information. With the combined strength of AVEVA and Schneider Electric Software, Citect SCADA became Plant SCADA to continue its legacy as a reliable, flexible, and high-performance Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software solution for industrial process customers. With the launch of AVEVA Plant SCADA 2020 R2, Citect SCADA took on a new name and a new role as an integrated part of the AVEVA Operations Control portfolio, including upgrades that allow users to access the full value of AVEVA’s operations control software, from the edge to the enterprise.
- https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/processing/case-study/beverage-maker-deploys-service-based-power-supply-model-1036391040 – Purearth Foods has become the first beverage manufacturer in Australia and New Zealand to deploy a software-led uninterruptible power supply (UPS) model. The project has delivered a fully managed service via Schneider’s Secure Power as a Service (SPaaS) model designed to help energy-intensive businesses enhance resilience, reduce capital costs, and improve operational focus. Facing end-of-service-life challenges with its existing UPS assets, Purearth Foods required a solution that could modernise infrastructure while improving operational resilience and cash flow flexibility. Following a comprehensive technical review, Schneider Electric proposed its SPaaS model—an outcomes-based service that shifts responsibility for monitoring, maintenance, and lifecycle management to Schneider Electric experts.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on 8 May 2026. Similar content appeared on 23 April 2026 in various sources, including Schneider Electric’s press release and other news outlets. ([automation.com](https://www.automation.com/article/schneider-electric-aveva-royal-avebe-industrial-electrification-europe-grid-constraints?utm_source=openai)) The earlier publications are consistent with the current article, indicating that the information is relatively fresh. However, the presence of multiple sources reporting the same information suggests that the content may be based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes a direct quote from Joyce de Vries-Pieterman, Director of Communication & Public Affairs at Avebe: “Further electrifying our production processes is an important step in making our operations more sustainable.” This quote appears in the earlier publications from 23 April 2026, indicating that it has been reused. ([automation.com](https://www.automation.com/article/schneider-electric-aveva-royal-avebe-industrial-electrification-europe-grid-constraints?utm_source=openai)) The reuse of this quote raises concerns about the originality of the content. Additionally, the lack of new or independently sourced quotes in the current article further suggests a reliance on the original press release.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article is published on Food Processing, an industry-specific publication. While it is a niche source, it is reputable within its field. However, the reliance on a press release from Schneider Electric and the reuse of content from other publications may indicate a lack of independent reporting. The absence of new, independently sourced information raises concerns about the originality and independence of the content.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the article align with industry trends towards industrial electrification and energy efficiency. The integration of Schneider Electric’s technologies to achieve these goals is plausible. However, the lack of new, independently sourced information and the reuse of content from other publications suggest that the article may not provide new insights or developments beyond what has already been reported.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents information that has been previously reported in other publications, including a press release from Schneider Electric dated 23 April 2026. The reuse of content and quotes from earlier sources, combined with the reliance on a press release, raises concerns about the originality and independence of the reporting. The lack of new, independently sourced information further diminishes the credibility of the article. Therefore, the overall assessment is a FAIL, indicating that the content does not meet the necessary standards for independent verification and originality.
