Danone South Africa
Using a microgrid to protect dairy manufacturing from power disruption
Climate-related operational risk: Grid instability, power outages, energy reliability and disruption to 24/7 manufacturing
Solution pathway: Combined heat and power, microgrid control and onsite energy resilience
Business type: Large corporate manufacturing site
Sector: Food and dairy manufacturing
Geography: Boksburg, South Africa
In practice
Danone’s Boksburg plant has invested in a 5MW combined heat and power system with a microgrid controller. The system is designed to provide more resilient power for the manufacturing plant while also recovering waste heat for steam and hot water.
This helps protect the site from power interruptions and supports more efficient use of energy within the production process. For a 24/7 food manufacturing site, this kind of onsite energy system can reduce downtime risk and strengthen business continuity.
Why this example was selected
This case study was curated because Danone’s Boksburg dairy plant has been externally profiled as a practical example of industrial energy resilience in South Africa. Clarke Energy, INNIO, FoodBev Media and Engineering News have all reported on the project, which combines a 5MW combined heat and power system, microgrid controller, existing solar PV and diesel backup to support a 24/7 dairy manufacturing site facing frequent power outages and grid instability.
The example is useful for the Business Knowledge Hub because it shows how a manufacturer can protect operational continuity by investing in onsite energy systems, rather than relying entirely on an unstable grid. It is especially relevant for food and dairy manufacturing, where refrigeration, heating, cleaning, processing and quality control all depend on reliable power. The case also links resilience with efficiency, because recovered waste heat is used for steam and hot water within the plant.
