Drinks firm adopts renewable energy

Diageo, which manufactures Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray and Smirnoff, is to build a state-of-the-art biofuel facility at its plant in Cameronbridge in Fife.

Working with energy management firm Dalkia, Diageo will use the power plant to extract energy from 90,000 tonnes of 'spent wash', or a mixture of wheat, malted barley, yeast and water which is a waste product of the distilling process.

It […] secures the long-term sustainability of our operation, moving the site away from reliance on fossil fuels

Bryan Donaghey

Managing director

Diageo Scotland

Using anaerobic digestion, the liquid waste is converted into biogas and a solid biomass fuel which could recover 80 per cent of electrical power and 98 per cent of thermal steam at the distillery.

Bryan Donaghey, managing director of Diageo Scotland, commented: "It is without question the right way forward in terms of environmental benefits and secures the long-term sustainability of our operation, moving the site away from reliance on fossil fuels.

In addition, the firm has announced £100 million in investment in Scotland, including a £40 million expansion at Cameronbridge distillery and the construction of a new plant in Roseisle in Morayshire, which will also use sustainable energy.

Diageo was formed in 1997 after a merger of Guinness and GrandMet, and operates out its headquarters in London.

It employs 22,000 people in around 80 countries and has facilities across the globe, including plants in the US, Canada and Australia.