Water for industry
Water for cities & municipalities
Industrial sewage
Municipal sewage
Sewage sludge
Circular economy
Energy recovery
More than PLN 7.84 million in savings generated from 4.25 million Nm³ of biogas - the balance of the annual operation of the Mlekovita Group Biofermentation Plant, realised by SEEN Technologie
Exactly one year ago, in May 2024, a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant integrated with a methane fermentation installation was launched on the premises of the Mlekovita Group production facility in Wysokie Mazowieckie. Today, it is not only one of the most technologically advanced facilities of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, it is also a symbol of the effective combination of a sustainable development strategy with real financial benefits.
Designed and implemented by SEEN Technologie, the installation converts waste and production residues into clean energy, covering 30% of the energy demand of the Mlekovita Group head office plant. In just 12 months of operation, the facility generated approximately 4.25 million Nm³ of biogas, which enabled the production of 11.2 GWh of electricity and 10.8 GWh of heat, significantly reducing the plant's dependence on external energy sources.
Energy from waste, profit for business and the environment
Today's industry faces a dilemma: how to produce more, faster, better and cheaper - without increasing the pressure on the environment. The Mlekovita Group, with the support of SEEN Technologie, is proving that the answer to this challenge is innovative environmental technologies that not only reduce the carbon footprint, but also provide measurable financial savings and competitive advantage.
Estimating the value of the electricity generated at an assumed rate of PLN 700 per MWh - corresponding to the averaged terms of energy purchase - it turns out that the new installation has saved PLN 7.84 million per year. This is not just a figure on paper - it is a real improvement in the plant's energy balance, better predictability of operating costs and greater independence from volatile market conditions.
With an investment cost of PLN 72 million, this means an estimated payback in just under 9.2 years - and this does not even take into account the additional benefits associated with heat recovery, reduced sludge management costs or reduced environmental charges. Considering also the price of the steam produced, the return on investment would be even faster, after just eight years.
The solutions used go beyond typical wastewater treatment schemes. The methane fermentation system allows sludge, whey and other residues from dairy production to be fully utilised. Two cogeneration units with a capacity of 800 kWe each convert biogas into electricity and process heat, which is fed back into the production process.
Part of the heat produced - 4.4 GWh per year to be exact - is used in the on-site powder plant, with the remainder supporting other areas of the plant. This closed circulation of energy and resources is the essence of the circular economy that is so much talked about - and which simply works at the Mlekovita Group production facility in Wysokie Mazowieckie.
The plant was designed with flexibility and further expansion in mind. It is integrated into the existing infrastructure and enables real-time data analysis - all to support intelligent resource management and continuous process optimisation.
- The dairy industry, like any industry, must look for responsible and long-term solutions. Our Biofermentation Plant is an investment that combines all the key elements: energy security, lower operating costs, emission reduction and conscious resource management. Working with SEEN Technologie's highly skilled team of technologists and engineers, we have been able to create a facility that not only strengthens our market position, but also confirms our commitment to the environment. It is a facility that gives us an advantage today and provides stability for the future - emphasises Dariusz Sapiński, President of the Management Board of Mlekovita Group
- This engineering project is not only an example of advanced technology put into practice, but above all a vision of an industry that can be ambitious, profitable and responsible at the same time. The Biofermentation Plant that we realised for the Mlekovita Group is a model example of a modern biorefinery. We are proud to be part of this transformation. From the first day of operation, the installation has generated real benefits - both economically and environmentally. It demonstrates that green investments are no longer a cost, but a strategic business decision with a high rate of return. It is this approach that should shape the future of the food industry - adds Dariusz Jasak, CEO of SEEN Technologie
The one-year operation of the new plant in Wysokie Mazowieckie proves that investment in green technologies is no longer an option - today it is a necessity for companies that want to remain competitive and responsible. It is no longer a temporary trend or the result of regulatory pressure, but a real response to the economic, energy and environmental challenges facing modern industry. Rising energy costs, the instability of raw material supplies and the need to reduce emissions are all making closed-loop technologies a cornerstone of modern business strategy.
The new reality requires not only innovative technological solutions, but also a change in the way we think about production. The industry of the future is not limited to manufacturing - it analyses, integrates processes, recovers resources and designs each stage of the business in a systemic way. The Biofermentation Factory of the Mlekovita Group is the best example of this: in a single, coherent technological ecosystem, waste becomes a raw material and energy becomes a strategic resource managed in a sustainable and predictable manner.
It is in this approach that the strength of the energy transition and the sense of building a new, responsible industrial economy lies. The model of operation based on efficiency, energy independence and environmental protection is becoming not only a distinctive feature of companies of the future - but actually a condition for their development.
The Mlekovita Group, with the support of SEEN Technologie, has not only put this vision into practice, but has given it a practical, measurable dimension. And this makes this investment a breakthrough project - not only on the scale of the dairy sector, but of the entire Polish industry.
