Irish craft brewer Rye River Brewing Company has announced that it plans to power its entire operation with renewable energy sourced from Beale Hill wind farm in Listowel Co. Kerry.
The Kildare-based brewer has signed a one-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with energy transition firm Pinergy, which enables it to purchase energy generated from wind or solar farms based in Ireland that are feeding into the national grid.
The brewer said that the CPPA will enable it to meet 100% of its annual energy requirements, as well as significantly reducing its carbon footprint – by the equivalent of 222.5 flights from Dublin to New York on an annual basis.
‘Green and renewable energy’
“We are very proud of the fact that by partnering with Pinergy, every KW of energy coming in to Rye River Brewing Company comes from Beale Hill wind farm in Kerry, generating green and renewable energy,” commented Tom Cronin, founder and CEO, Rye River Brewing Company.
“Sustainable energy creates very little to no carbon emissions and offsets our need for fossil fuels. The transition to a sustainable energy system is crucial for mitigating climate change and creating a more sustainable future.”
As well as the renewable energy agreement, in recent years Rye River has invested €5 million in enhancing efficiency in its operations, as well as reducing water usage by over 25% and electricity consumption by 15% since 2018.
Power purchase agreements
To date, Pinergy has secured corporate power purchase agreements for more than 220GWh of annual Irish wind generation under its Guarantee of Origin offering, with Alan Clarke, Pinergy energy consultant saying that the CPPA with Rye River demonstrates the company’s “unwavering commitment to sustainability and reducing their environmental impact.
“This move sets a fantastic example and standard for the craft brewing industry and we hope to see more breweries follow their lead,” he added.
Pictured are Tom Cronin, founder and CEO of Rye River Brewing Company and Alan Clarke, Pinergy energy consultant. Read more here.
