Revolution in the Polish Dairy Industry: Polmlek Plant Achieves 80% Energy Independence

9 June 2026

The Polmlek Group’s facility in Lidzbark Warmiński has achieved approximately 80% energy self-sufficiency, largely thanks to the modernization of its wastewater treatment plant. The upgrade included the implementation of an anaerobic treatment process, enabling the conversion of the organic load contained in wastewater into valuable biogas. This investment, delivered by SEEN Technologie, now allows the plant to generate energy from biogas produced during wastewater treatment, contributing to lower operating costs, reduced CO₂ emissions, and decreased dependence on external energy supplies.

The modernization was completed in 2025. After one year of operation, the installation has proven its effectiveness both technologically and economically. The facility has reached the capacity to produce approximately 2 million Nm³ of methane annually, corresponding to cogeneration output of around 1 MW of electrical power and 1 MW of thermal energy used for the wastewater treatment plant and production processes. As a result, Polmlek has significantly reduced its need to purchase external energy, improving the stability of its operating costs and increasing resilience to energy price fluctuations.

Revolution in the Polish Dairy Industry: Polmlek Plant Achieves 80% Energy Independence

A key element of the investment was the implementation of an anaerobic treatment process, enabling energy recovery directly from wastewater. This solution has reduced the costs of bioreactor aeration by nearly threefold while also decreasing the volume of sewage sludge requiring disposal. Wastewater, which previously represented only an operating cost, has now become a valuable source of on-site energy generation.

The installation operates continuously, is fully automated, and can flexibly adapt to changing operating conditions. The entire modernization project was carried out without interrupting the plant’s operations. SEEN Technologie was responsible for the delivery of the complete investment, from detailed engineering and design, through equipment supply and installation, to commissioning and start-up of the facility.

– The energy transition has become one of the key drivers of industrial competitiveness. Today, our facility in Lidzbark Warmiński achieves approximately 80% energy self-sufficiency, while the modern wastewater treatment plant also serves as a local source of green energy. We are further developing projects based on high-efficiency cogeneration and circular economy principles, consistently reducing the energy intensity of our production processes and maximizing the value derived from raw materials and technological processes – says Marcin Witulski, President of the Management Board of the Polmlek Group.

The implementation of anaerobic treatment processes also enabled a 50% reduction in the organic pollution load (COD). The quality of the treated wastewater consistently remains well below the applicable environmental discharge limits, while the facility further reduces greenhouse gas emissions and lowers the carbon footprint of its operations.

– The project in Lidzbark Warmiński demonstrates that a properly designed wastewater treatment plant can today serve a much broader purpose than merely environmental infrastructure. It is an installation that directly supports a facility’s energy efficiency, reduces operating costs, and strengthens business independence. We are proud to have worked together with the Polmlek Group to deliver a solution that combines high technological performance with tangible business and environmental benefits – emphasizes Dariusz Jasak, President of the Management Board of SEEN Technologie.

The facility in Lidzbark Warmiński is the largest dairy plant within the Polmlek Group and has been consistently implementing a “zero waste” operating philosophy since 2022, utilizing and processing every valuable milk fraction. It is a European leader in milk and whey fractionation.

The completed project reflects a broader transformation taking place across the Polish food industry. Rising energy prices, increasingly stringent environmental regulations, and the need to strengthen energy independence are driving more companies to invest in technologies that recover energy from waste streams and industrial wastewater. The Polmlek case demonstrates that modern wastewater treatment plants can serve as local energy generation hubs, supporting competitiveness, cost stability, and the achievement of ESG objectives.