Guinness has been brewed at the site for the past 264 years and the investment unveiled this morning is designed to make it one of the most efficient breweries in the world by 2030, according to Diageo.
By 2030, the site’s renewable energy strategy will combine the use of heat pumps powered by the grid and and biogas generated within a new water recovery facility. This facility will also improve water use efficiency and is projected to cut the amount of water used to make Guinness by 30pc.
Diageo is preparing a planning application for its decarbonisation project that will be submitted to Dublin City Council later this year and will be engaging with industry experts, local communities and representatives prior to submitting the application, according to the drinks giant.
The investment was announced at St James’s Gate this morning by Diageo’s global CEO, Debra Crew.
She was joined by Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke. The CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Leo Clancy, is also at this morning’s event. Enterprise Ireland is providing Government-backed support for the decarbonisation project.
“St James’s Gate is an historic location for an iconic brand,” said Ms Crew. “We’re 260 years into our 9,000-year lease at St James’s Gate and this investment will ensure that Guinness has an exciting and long-term sustainable future.”
Diageo also makes Guinness 0.0 at St James’s Gate and last year announced that it would invest €25m at the site to boost production of the non-alcoholic version of its stout.
“Industry is a key pillar of national and global efforts to address climate change, and it is welcome and important that Diageo is showing leadership by decarbonising its operations here in its home city,” said Mr Harris this morning.
Diageo secured permission late last year for a new €200m brewery in Newbridge, Co Kildare. The new facility will brew lagers and ales including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny and Carlsberg. When fully operational with a capacity of two million hectolitres, it will be the second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St James’s Gate.
Diageo is taking action across its operations globally and in Ireland to reduce its carbon emissions in line with its 10-year environmental, social and governance action plan.
