Alexion installs heat pump as part of green measures

Alexion, which is AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease Unit, recently installed a heat pump at its manufacturing facility in Athlone as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and increase sustainability.

The heat pump captures heat from the onsite cooling towers, amplifies it, and diverts it to the onsite heat exchanger, providing a reliable and sustainable source of heat energy for the low-pressure hot water system. By reducing the use of natural gas and steam, the operation of the heat pump will lower carbon emissions for the site in Athlone by 50%.

The Sustainability Lead for Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease Unit, Shane Doyle, commented: “We are delighted to be further investing in our facilities in Ireland, an increasingly critical global hub for our operations. This development is an important milestone as we continue to push towards our sustainability goals.

"As a large organisation, it's important for us to reduce our carbon footprint and show that we're committed to reducing our environmental impact. The installation of the heat pump is a significant step forward in achieving these goals."

The facility in Athlone has bold green plans to increase the sustainability of manufacturing practices to cut carbon emissions and aim to achieve zero carbon by 2025 and be carbon negative by 2030. This supports Ireland in meeting its ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2030, and to achieve a climate neutral economy by 2050.

Alexion is dedicated to innovation and the installation of the heat pump is an example of this commitment. The company’s pursuit of carbon neutrality also aligns with their overall mission to improve the lives of patients with rare diseases.