The Bruichladdich whisky distillery has unveiled plans to run entirely on renewable energy within the next five years, as part of a £20m investment. The distillery is now the biggest private sector employer on the island of Islay, and wants to use energy more responsibly. Meanwhile Bruichladdich boss Douglas Taylor said Brexit uncertainty could cause short-term complications. But he said it would not derail its potential for longer term growth. Bruichladdich currently grows 42% of the barley used in its Scotch locally, which at the moment is sent to Inverness for malting.
BBC 1st April 2019 read more »
Ice cream maker Mackie’s of Scotland is installing a new eco-friendly refrigeration system in a seven-figure investment as it aims to be the greenest company in Britain. The Aberdeenshire-based brand, which also makes chocolate, is investing £4 million in replacing its existing freezing equipment with low-carbon, power-efficient units run on ammonia – a natural refrigerant gas that is understood to pose no threat to the environment. Mackie’s has been using HCFC gases, which are seen as having a very high global warming potential. The new system will cool its ice cream with heat from a biomass boiler, powered by a sustainable energy source, in what the business says is the first large-scale plant in Scotland to fuse biomass heat and absorption chilling. It will enable Mackie’s to target “ambitious” carbon dioxide equivalent reductions of 90 per cent and energy costs of 70 to 80 per cent. The project is being realised due to a grant from the Scottish Government Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, match-funded by Mackie’s through a loan from Bank of Scotland. It is hoped that it will inspire other Scottish fish, meat and dairy food manufacturers to adopt similar energy-efficient technology.
Scotsman 1st April 2019 read more »
With solar panels already installed on dozens of its buildings, the city of Sydney has upped the ante by vowing to source 100% of its electricity needs from solar PV and wind. The commitment was endorsed by city council last week, with a new 100% renewable electricity contract to be negotiated in the coming months.
PV Magazine 1st April 2019 read more »
