Spiral Foods Group and Heliac open world’s first commercial-scale RockStore plant – BeanScene

Spiral Foods Group and Danish energy technology company Heliac officially opened the world’s first commercial-scale RockStore plant, bringing renewable heat storage into food production at Spiral Foods’ Shepparton factory on Tuesday 20 October.

The installation uses solar electricity stored as heat in crushed granite to produce steam for manufacturing. It offers a practical way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels while maintaining the dependable heat supply production requires, supporting Spiral Foods Group’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2028.

Consul-General of Denmark, Anna Louise Højberg Henrichsen, and Mayor of Greater Shepparton City Council, Geoff Akers, marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Both delivered addresses, alongside James Wilson, Director of Spiral Foods Group, and Eddie Allan Jensen, Board Member of Heliac.

The inauguration follows a Memorandum of Association signed by James Wilson and Heliac Chairman Bo Kristensen during the Danish royal visit to Australia in March 2026.

Signed in the presence of His Majesty King Frederik X and Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark, the agreement brought together Danish energy innovation and Australian food manufacturing.

“Our goal is for Spiral Foods Group to be carbon neutral by 2028, and the energy we use to make our food is an important part of that plan,” says James Wilson, Director of Spiral Foods Group.

“RockStore helps us use renewable energy for the heat our factory needs. As a familyowned business, we want to build on our commitment to good food by reducing the environmental impact of how it is produced.”

RockStore converts electricity into heat and stores it in insulated tanks containing crushed granite. The heat generates steam on demand for cooking, heating and sterilisation, including when the sun is not shining.

The Shepparton system is designed to store up to 5,000 kWh of heat and deliver steam output of up to 800 kW at 170°C. It is powered primarily by rooftop solar electricity, with grid electricity available as backup.

Under a 15-year energy supply arrangement outlined by Heliac, Spiral Foods has committed to purchasing energy for its manufacturing operations.

“This is only the beginning,” says Consul-General of Denmark, Anna Louise Højberg Henrichsen.

“Spiral Foods and Heliac have brought Danish innovation into practice here in Shepparton, and we hope this is the first of many achievements for the partnership. As Spiral Foods works towards its sustainability goals, we look forward to seeing how this collaboration grows and what the next chapter of renewable energy in food production can bring.”