{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,7]],"date-time":"2026-02-07T00:31:45Z","timestamp":1770424305929,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]],"date-time":"2025-01-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737763200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Energies"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In Portugal, cheese holds a prominent position as a major dairy product, with traditional varieties enjoying widespread acclaim. A number of these cheeses have earned Protected Designations of Origin status, showcasing their unique qualities and regional significance. Notable examples include \u201cSerra da Estrela\u201d, \u201cSerpa\u201d, and \u201cTerrincho\u201d. The production of cheese relies heavily on heating and cooling processes, which account for a substantial portion of the total energy consumed. This research endeavour undertakes a detailed description and analysis of traditional cheesemaking practices within Portugal\u2019s interior central region, with a particular emphasis on the economic and energetic efficiency of refrigeration systems. For this purpose, thirty-one traditional cheese production facilities were examined and classified into two distinct groups: Traditional Industrial Producers and Traditional Handmade Producers. The analysis was conducted through two separate case studies. The findings reveal that a significant 58% of the energy consumed by these facilities is attributed to electrically powered cooling systems, encompassing components such as fans, compressed air systems, and illumination. Within the production processes, fuel combustion, primarily naphtha or propane, serves the purpose of water heating and steam generation. Based on energy consumption reports, the Specific Energy Consumption of electricity was determined to be 0.283 kWh\/lRM for TIP and 0.169 kWh\/lRM for THP. Furthermore, several linear regression models were developed to explore the relationships between parameters such as cold room volume, compressor power, and raw material quantity. The study also identified key factors contributing to reduced energy efficiency within the facilities. These factors include inadequate insulation of buildings and cold rooms, outdated and poorly maintained refrigeration equipment situated in suboptimal locations, and cold rooms and compressors that are oversized and not optimised for efficient operation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/en18030562","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,27]],"date-time":"2025-01-27T11:38:49Z","timestamp":1737977929000},"page":"562","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Energy Efficiency in Portuguese Traditional Cheese Industries: A Comprehensive Case Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Jos\u00e9","family":"Nunes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Agriculture School, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Av. Pedro \u00c1lvares Cabral n\u00b012, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2204-3397","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, Cal\u00e7ada Fonte do Lameiro 6, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"C-MAST\u2014Center for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technologies, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9206-2350","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Andrade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Agriculture School, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Av. Pedro \u00c1lvares Cabral n\u00b012, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal"},{"name":"CERNAS\u2014Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, 6000-767 Castelo Branco, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1691-1709","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Gaspar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, Cal\u00e7ada Fonte do Lameiro 6, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"C-MAST\u2014Center for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technologies, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6522-7092","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pinar","family":"Cuce","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Zihni Derin Campus, 53100 Rize, Turkey"},{"name":"College of Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK"},{"name":"Center for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura 140401, Punjab, India"},{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0150-4705","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Erdem","family":"Cuce","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura 140401, Punjab, India"},{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India"},{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Zihni Derin Campus, 53100 Rize, Turkey"},{"name":"University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8683-5428","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yusuf","family":"Yilmaz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Beira Interior, Cal\u00e7ada Fonte do Lameiro 6, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Zihni Derin Campus, 53100 Rize, Turkey"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"548","article-title":"Industrial energy efficiency and climate change mitigation","volume":"Volume 1","author":"Worrell","year":"2018","journal-title":"Renewable Energy"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yakymchuk, A. (2024). The Carbon Dioxide Emissions\u2019 World Footprint: Diagnosis of Perspectives, University of Information Technologies and Management. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology; Organization & Management\/Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarzadzanie 195.","DOI":"10.29119\/1641-3466.2024.195.41"},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"100661","article-title":"A comprehensive investigation on energy consumptions, impacts, and challenges of the food industry","volume":"23","author":"Corigliano","year":"2024","journal-title":"Energy Convers. Manag. X"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Food Drink European (2012). Data & Trends of the European Food and Drink Industry 2011, Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"745","DOI":"10.22434\/ifamr2022.0052","article-title":"Are German pastures greener for Chinese dairy foreign direct investments?","volume":"27","author":"Robinson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. Food Agribus. Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1080\/15528014.2022.2050128","article-title":"\u201cAn incredible voyage through Portugal\u201d\u2014The promotion of rural provenance foods by urban speciality shops","volume":"27","author":"Forte","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Cult. Soc."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"680","DOI":"10.3390\/telecom5030034","article-title":"The Scale-Up of E-Commerce in Romania Generated by the Pandemic, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence","volume":"5","author":"Nistor","year":"2024","journal-title":"Telecom"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ribeiro, V.M. (2024). Portuguese Textiles and Apparel Industry: Assessing the Effect of International Trade on Employment and Green Employment. Adm. Sci., 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/admsci14100239"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scandurra, F., Salomone, R., Caeiro, S., and de Moura, A.P. (2024). Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector: Insights into Portuguese Companies\u2019 Practices. Circ. Econ. Sustain., 1\u201326.","DOI":"10.1007\/s43615-024-00425-y"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Neves, A., Godina, R., Azevedo, S.G., and Matias, J.C.O. (2019). Current status, emerging challenges, and future prospects of industrial symbiosis in Portugal. Sustainability, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/su11195497"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1002\/agr.20167","article-title":"An economic and legal assessment of the EU food industry\u2019s competitiveness","volume":"24","author":"Wijnands","year":"2008","journal-title":"Agribus. Int. J."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Murphy, S., Burch, D., and Clapp, J. (2012). Cereal Secrets: The World\u2019s Largest Grain Traders and Global Agriculture, Oxfam International."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Sim\u00f5es, V.C., Godinho, M.M., and Sanchez-Martinez, M. (2018). RIO Country Report 2017: Portugal, Publications Office of the European Union."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"DGAV (2024, December 13). Estabelecimentos aprovados de g\u00e9neros aliment\u00edcios de origem animal\u2014Regulamento (CE) n.\u00ba 853\/2004\u2014Sec\u00e7\u00e3o IX\u2014Leite e produtos l\u00e1cteos, Dire\u00e7\u00e3o-Geral de Alimenta\u00e7\u00e3o e Veterin\u00e1ria, Portugal. Available online: https:\/\/sipace.dgav.pt\/Estabelecimentos\/PublicacaoNCV."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Freire, D., and Lains, P. (2016). The Portuguese Agriculture, 1703\u20131820: Extensive Growth and Market Expansion. An Agrarian History of Portugal, 1000\u20132000, Brill."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brush, A. (2011). Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost-Saving Opportunities for the Dairy Processing Industry: An ENERGY STAR? Guide for Energy and Plant Managers, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).","DOI":"10.2172\/1171534"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2677","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applthermaleng.2007.06.005","article-title":"An energy management method for the food industry","volume":"27","author":"Muller","year":"2007","journal-title":"Appl. Therm. Eng."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"712","DOI":"10.55817\/EMRK6646","article-title":"Food safety policy in the european union","volume":"5","author":"Giannenas","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Agron. Technol. Eng. Manag. (JATEM)"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e14862","DOI":"10.1111\/jfpp.14862","article-title":"Energy consumption and efficiency measures in the Portuguese food processing industry","volume":"46","author":"Morais","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Food Process. Preserv."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-environ-012220-034103","article-title":"Greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioning and refrigeration service expansion in developing countries","volume":"46","author":"Dong","year":"2021","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applthermaleng.2009.09.001","article-title":"A review of emerging technologies for food refrigeration applications","volume":"30","author":"Tassou","year":"2010","journal-title":"Appl. Therm. Eng."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"878","DOI":"10.4028\/www.scientific.net\/AMM.590.878","article-title":"Characterization of the specific electrical energy consumption of agrifood industries in the central region of Portugal","volume":"590","author":"Gaspar","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl. Mech. Mater."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"1077","article-title":"Evaluation des gisements d\u2019\u00e9nergie. Fili\u00e8re des produits laitiers et fromagers","volume":"97","author":"Gautherin","year":"2007","journal-title":"Rev. G\u00e9n\u00e9rale du Froid et du Conditionnement d'Air"},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"2","article-title":"UK Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs Guidance","volume":"14","author":"Bourges","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. Food Feed Law Rev."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Matos, A.M., Delgado, J.M.P.Q., and Guimar\u00e3es, A.S. (2022). Linking energy poverty with thermal building regulations and energy efficiency policies in Portugal. Energies, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/en15010329"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Victoria, S. (2009). Energy Efficiency Best Practice Guide Industrial Refrigeration, State Government, Sustainability Victoria."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"40","article-title":"L\u2019audit \u00e9nerg\u00e9tique appliqu\u00e9 au froid: Contenu, attendus, impacts","volume":"1101","author":"Guilpart","year":"2010","journal-title":"Rev. G\u00e9n\u00e9rale du Froid du Conditionnement d\u2019Air"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1993","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2009.08.014","article-title":"Characterization of energy use and performance of global cheese processing","volume":"34","author":"Xu","year":"2009","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2015.12.019","article-title":"Key points on the energy sustainable development of the food industry\u2014Case study of the Portuguese sausages industry","volume":"57","author":"Nunes","year":"2016","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Piccioni, M., Martini, F., Martini, C., and Toro, C. (2024). Evaluation of Energy Performance Indicators and Energy Saving Oppor-tunities for the Italian Rubber Manufacturing Industry. Energies, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/en17071584"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enpol.2010.09.037","article-title":"Reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from global dairy processing facilities","volume":"39","author":"Xu","year":"2011","journal-title":"Energy Policy"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"758","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enconman.2014.09.018","article-title":"Predictive tool of energy performance of cold storage in agrifood industries: The Portuguese case study","volume":"88","author":"Nunes","year":"2014","journal-title":"Energy Convers. Manag."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applthermaleng.2016.11.046","article-title":"3D and transient numerical modelling of door opening and closing processes and its influence on thermal performance of cold rooms","volume":"113","author":"Carneiro","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl. Therm. Eng."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schmitt, E., Keech, D., Maye, D., Barjolle, D., and Kirwan, J. (2016). Comparing the sustainability of local and global food chains: A case study of cheese products in Switzerland and the UK. Sustainability, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/su8050419"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2018.04.045","article-title":"Environmental impact of cheese production: A case study of a small-scale factory in southern Europe and global overview of carbon footprint","volume":"635","author":"Canellada","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Verduna, T., Blanc, S., Merlino, V.M., Cornale, P., and Battaglini, L.M. (2020). Sustainability of four dairy farming scenarios in an Alpine environment: The case study of Toma di Lanzo cheese. Front. Vet. Sci., 7.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2020.569167"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nunes, \u00d3.S., Gaspar, P.D., Nunes, J., Quinteiro, P., Dias, A.C., and Godina, R. (2020). Life-cycle assessment of dairy products\u2014Case study of regional cheese produced in Portugal. Processes, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/pr8091182"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Silva, P.D., Gaspar, P.D., Andrade, L.P., Nunes, J., and Domingues, C. (2016). Best practices in refrigeration applications to promote energy efficiency\u2014The Portuguese case study. Food Industry: Assessment, Trends and Current Issues, Nova Publishers."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"100693","article-title":"Characterization of cooling equipment in the food industry: Case study of the Colombian meat, dairy, and fruit and vegetable sectors","volume":"41","author":"Poveda","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ. Dev."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spc.2021.03.021","article-title":"Towards energy-efficient small dairy production systems: An environmental and economic assessment","volume":"28","author":"Egas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sustain. Prod. Consum."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santos, A.F., Gaspar, P.D., and Souza, H.J. (2021). Measuring the energy efficiency of evaporative systems through a new in-dex\u2014Evacop. Energies, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/en14092689"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.22398\/2525-2828.51572-94","article-title":"An\u00e1lise do setor cultural e criativo em Portugal: Principais estudos macroecon\u00f4micos entre 2008\u20132018","volume":"5","author":"Cortez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Rev. Di\u00e1logo com a Econ. Criativa"},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"15","article-title":"Independent testing of heat pumps is needed for reliable COP","volume":"5","author":"Klein","year":"2012","journal-title":"REHVA J."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"346","DOI":"10.1016\/j.egypro.2017.03.084","article-title":"Performance investigation of natural refrigerant R290 as a substitute to R22 in refrigeration systems","volume":"109","author":"Choudhari","year":"2017","journal-title":"Energy Procedia"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1080\/01998595.2014.10876999","article-title":"Energy efficiency opportunities in the U.S. Dairy processing industry","volume":"111","author":"Masanet","year":"2014","journal-title":"Energy Eng."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Fortuny Quiles, C. (2024). Cuines de barri: Respostes col\u00b7lectives per a garantir l\u2019acc\u00e9s a una alimentaci\u00f3 agroecol\u00f2gica al barri de La Pau. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de calunya]."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Nunes, J., Silva, P.D., Andrade, L.P., and Gaspar, P.D. (2015, January 16\u201322). Opportunities for the energy efficiency improvement in the diary food sector. Proceedings of the 24th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration (ICR2015), Yokohama, Japan."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ntuli, V., Sibanda, T., Elegbeleye, J.A., Mugadza, D.T., Seifu, E., and Buys, E.M. (2023). Dairy production: Microbial safety of raw milk and processed milk products. Present Knowledge in Food Safety, Academic Press.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-819470-6.00076-7"}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.3390\/en18174735","type":"correction","label":"Correction","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]],"date-time":"2025-01-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737763200000}}],"container-title":["Energies"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1073\/18\/3\/562\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,5]],"date-time":"2025-09-05T12:25:30Z","timestamp":1757075130000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1073\/18\/3\/562"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]]},"references-count":48,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["en18030562"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/en18030562","relation":{"correction":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.3390\/en18174735","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1996-1073"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1996-1073","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,25]]}}}