A geothermal distillery, use of fugitive methane and a high temperature heat store are to be served as 17 UK distilleries receive the first phase of £10 million government funding.
Part of the Green Distilleries Fund, the funding will help eleven distilleries across Scotland and a further six in England to harness energy sources such as low-carbon hydrogen, biomass and repurposed waste to power their operations.
The successful distilleries will receive between £44,000 and £75,000 in the first phase of funding, helping them boost decarbonisation research and development, with schemes including the use of hydrogen and biofuel boilers and geothermal energy in their production processes.
According to the government, the funding will help prevent pollution equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road.
Dagmar Droogsma, Director of Industry at the Scotch Whisky Association, commented on the announcement: “The Green Distilleries Fund is an important step on the industry’s journey towards net-zero.
“It will help the industry test new technologies, like hydrogen, which can be rolled out at scale in future years and enable Scotch Whisky to further drive down emissions and protect the natural environment.
“With COP26 taking place in Glasgow this year, the Scotch whisky industry has ambitious plans to build on the success of the last decade when distilleries cut greenhouse gas emissions by 34%.
“There is more to do, but with continued support from government the Scotch whisky industry can continue to work towards a more sustainable future.”
The funding for the Green Distilleries competition is part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative low-carbon technologies, systems and processes in the power, buildings and industrial sectors.
More information about the Green Distilleries competition and successful projects can be found from the government website.
