In the 2020 Budget, £10 million of funding was allocated to Research and Development (R&D) to help internationally-known distilleries in the UK go green by switching to low carbon fuel.
The ‘green industrial revolution’ is in its initial funding phase to ensure carbon emissions decrease, and new green jobs receive the necessary support.
With the Government funding, UK distilleries can switch to alternative energy sources, such as biomass, low-carbon hydrogen and repurposed waste to power their operations, ultimately cutting nearly a million tonnes of CO2 every year. This amount is equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road.
In total, six distilleries in England, and seven it Scotland, can now start their sustainable innovations with funding of between £44,000 and £75,000, in the first phase.
Additionally, utilising these alternative fuels and energy sources enables decarbonisation R&D to increase. Already the use of biofuel and hydrogen boilers, along with geothermal energy, are in its production process.
Director of Industry at the Scotch Whisky Association, Dagmar Droogsma, believes that “the Green Distilleries Fund is an important step in 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.”
For more information or guidance regarding R&D funding, book a demo today.
