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Breitenburger Milchzentrale

Fresh thinking for fresh products

High-quality dairy has always been at the heart of the Breitenburger Milchzentrale. What’s new is their energy strategy: smart, sustainable technology from Siemens that helps make production healthier. For the environment and for the products themselves.

Keeping it local. Making it better.

Since 1879, Breitenburger Milchzentrale keeps supply chains short. The Itzehoe-based cooperative produces high-quality cheese for the food industry from regional milk. Next step: increase efficiency and sustainability.

Holger Schygulla and Heiko Junge in the interview: The dairy is electrifying its energy supply, driving forward decarbonization.

Fueling quality without fossil fuels.

At Breitenburger Milchzentrale, more than 200 million kilograms of milk are processed every year. That takes a lot of milk and a lot of heat: for production, and to keep the facilities warm. Until recently, that heat came from an outdated oil-fired boiler. But continuing with fossil fuels was no longer an option. Fortunately, the modernization didn’t start from scratch: Breitenburger Milchzentrale (BMZ) had already been using Siemens Navigator since 2014 to monitor energy data, providing a solid foundation and valuable insights for a smarter energy strategy.

Thanks to the new hybrid boiler plant and smart energy and load management from Siemens we not only save a lot of money every year, our flexible energy infrastructure also helps decarbonize our production processes.
Holger Schygulla, Managing Director, Breitenburger Milchzentrale eG

Making the grass greener on the production side

BMZ takes a long-term approach to sustainability – not by tweaking individual systems, but by rethinking its entire energy strategy. The key ingredient is smart technology from Siemens that makes production ready for the future without compromise.

A smart strategy with a taste for sustainable production

BMZ’s energy strategy is built on real data. With Siemens Navigator, energy experts have access to a comprehensive data base that reveals where the biggest potential lies, especially in process steam. A flexible model helps adjust the load profile and manage intensive grid use. This reduces emissions, cuts costs, and supports long-term decarbonization. Smart energy and load management ensure full performance without disrupting production or compromising employee comfort.

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Full steam ahead by leaving fossils behind

BMZ is replacing its outdated oil boiler with a hybrid system that runs on natural gas and carbon-neutral electricity. The intelligent switch between both energy sources is handled automatically by Desigo CC. Since the system qualifies for intensive grid use, BMZ receives a a significant reimbursement on grid fees. At the same time, Siemens is upgrading the entire steam infrastructure and connecting 20 additional energy and media meters to Navigator to enable better insights, smarter control, and a setup that's ready for whatever comes next.

A recipe for responsible production

Sustainable, energy-efficient dairy production is key. BMZ partnered with Siemens to optimize energy use. The solution earned €200,000 in funding and saves €250,000 annually in grid fees plus €50,000 in energy costs—driven by shared values and a commitment to greener production.

minimum internal rate of return (IRR)

annual energy cost savings

subsidies from the German federal government