Solberg & Hansen's commitment to biopropane reduces CO2 emissions by at least 70 %, and is a major step towards our goal of being a climate-neutral coffee roaster by 2030. For us, sustainability is about taking responsibility for the entire value chain, from the coffee farms we work with to the machines we use in production..
One of the great advantages of biopropane is that it has almost identical molecules to fossil propane. This means that biopropane can be used on the existing tank we have at Ryen, without the need for modifications to either the system or the roasting machines. Solberg & Hansen can thus continue to deliver the same high quality coffee, but with a significantly lower environmental impact.
A new era for coffee roasting
As the first coffee roaster in Norway to use biopropane, Solberg & Hansen and supplier Flogas have had to find solutions together. Biopropane is still uncharted territory for many, but this collaboration has shown that it is possible - and can pave the way for others in the industry.
- "For a long time, I thought that biogas (methane from renewable sources) was the only solution, but that would have required major investments in new equipment, new tanks, new pipes, new burners - and not least the time-consuming work of adjusting our burner profiles to ensure the quality we're so proud of," says Solberg & Hansen CEO Bengt Ove Bitnes Hagen.
- Then Flogas tipped us off about biopropane. With biopropane, we could keep the infrastructure we already have, avoid heavy investments - and still become fossil-free.
Bengt Ove believes that more players will follow suit, as the willingness to pay for sustainable solutions is increasing:
- For us, it's not just about economics, but also about taking responsibility for the environment and showing that it's possible to run climate-friendly production without compromising on quality.
"It is possible to run a climate-friendly production without compromising on quality."
– Bengt Ove Bitnes Hagen
Same great coffee - lower emissions
Biopropane is a renewable alternative to traditional fossil propane, produced from renewable raw materials such as vegetable cooking oil. Unlike fossil propane, which is extracted from natural gas separation, biopropane is produced in biorefineries from residual products and waste. This makes it a far more sustainable energy source that fulfils the requirements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (REDII).
Greenhouse gas emissions from the actual burning process at Ryen are now zerowhile the indirect emissions associated with the production and transport of biopropane are below the EU requirement of 24g CO2e/MJ. This is min. 70 % lower than the emission factors for fossil propane, making biopropane a superior choice for the environment.
The future of coffee and sustainability
Solberg & Hansen's transition to biopropane is an important step in the right direction for the coffee industry. With this initiative, we are showing that it is possible to roast speciality coffee in a more environmentally friendly way - without compromising either quality or efficiency.
As pioneers of biopropane in Norway, we now hope that more coffee roasters and industrial companies will see the value of investing in fossil-free energy. For Solberg & Hansen, this is just the beginning of a greener future for coffee lovers across the country.
