€100m is to be invested by drinks manufacturer Diageo in the decarbonisation of its St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin.
Among the aims of the investment is to entirely phase out the use of fossil fuels in its direct brewing operations there.
The project also hopes to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions generated by the site by more than 90%, in line with the Science Based Target initiative’s definition of net zero.
The company also plans to reduce the volume of water needed to brew Guinness by 30%.
“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,” said Diageo’s Global chief executive Debra Crew.
“We are proud to lead the way on decarbonisation, both as a major Irish business and as an industry-leading company,” she said.
Among the measures Diageo intends to implement are the use of grid-supplied electrical power heat pumps.
It also plans to utilise biogas generated within a new water recovery facility.
“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 Taoiseach Simon Harris who visited the site today.
“Guinness has been made in Dublin for over a quarter of a millennium, and today so many tourists visit the location while they are here. It’s not just a green transformation for St. James’s Gate but a flagship transformation that will send a strong message to the world,” Mr Harris said.
“It also demonstrates the Government’s commitment to businesses, big and small, to make the green transition, and to work in partnership to help achieve our climate goals,” he added.
In order to carry out the changes, Diageo will require planning permission from Dublin City Council and is preparing an application which it plans to submit later this year.
It will also be engaging with local communities and representatives, as well as industry representatives.
The project has been described as a landmark by Enterprise Ireland chief executive, Leo Clancy.
“Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting businesses in the transition towards a low-carbon economy while capitalising on the new market opportunities that decarbonisation presents and creating jobs,” he said.
“It is fantastic to see Diageo’s continued investment in the highest sustainability standards in Ireland and we look forward to continuing our long-term partnership with Diageo as it embarks on this industry-leading work.”
