Decarbonisation Technology - August 2023 Issue

Renewable energy

Oxygen

Green spirit for maturation

Whisky still

Water treatment

Supercritical electr o lyser

Hydrogen storage

Hydrogen burner

Water

Green hydrogen production and storage

Whisky distillery

Brown water

Heat

Figure 2 Block flow diagram showing the integration of Supercritical’s electrolyser to produce whisky

to the remote location of some of the distilleries, the industry still uses a range of fossil fuels, including coal, medium/heavy fuel oil and, in some circumstances, peat. Through the NZIP, £10 million has been provided to several projects to carry out the research and development of a variety of novel solutions to decarbonise the distilleries sector. The Green Distilleries programme funded 17 feasibility studies, with final reports published in March 2021, and three demonstration projects:  Locogen Ltd, partnered with Arbikie Distillery, is leading the development and installation of a green hydrogen energy system at the distillery, comprising a wind turbine, electrolyser, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen boiler system.  Supercritical Solutions, partnered with Beam Suntory UK Ltd and Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), is developing the world’s first high-pressure, ultra-efficient electrolyser for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water with zero emissions.  Colorado Construction and Engineering Ltd, in conjunction with the University of Leeds and Clean Burner Systems, is developing a novel biofuel gasification system that can help transition all direct-fired and steam-heated distillery operations towards carbon neutrality. Supercritical case study – WhiskHy project Through the NZIP, £2.94 million has been provided to Supercritical Solutions and its partners, Beam Suntory and MTC, for the project WhiskHy. Beam Suntory owns several Scotch whisky distilleries and has targets to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero status

throughout its value chain by 2040. Supercritical Solutions is developing the world’s first high- pressure, ultra-efficient electrolyser to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water with zero emissions. Figure 2 demonstrates how Supercritical’s electrolyser could be integrated for the production of whisky. This aims to increase hydrogen production efficiency by 25% compared with currently available electrolysers. Towards the end of the project, a direct-fired hydrogen trial is planned at one of Beam Suntory’s facilities by combusting hydrogen directly beneath the copper still. The quality of the resultant spirit will be monitored immediately following distillation and continuously as it matures. You can find more details on the WhiskHy feasibility study on the Green Distilleries gov.uk webpage: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ green-distilleries-competition Progress of the NZIP The NZIP is supporting entrepreneurs and creating jobs across the UK. Projects such as those from the Green Distilleries and Industrial Fuel Switching programmes show how, with support from the government, technological ingenuity is enabling clean growth opportunities for the UK and helping us meet our net zero target. The Department recently published its progress report on the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. Read more at www.gov.uk/government/collections/net- zero-innovation-portfolio#nzip-progress-report

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industry.innovation@energysecurity.gov.uk