Rye River Brewing Company secures renewable electricity from County Kerry Wind Farm.
Independent craft brewery Rye River Brewing Company has signed a one-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with Pinergy that will power its entire operation using renewable energy from Beale Hill wind farm in Listowel, Co. Kerry.
The initiative is among the first such contracts for an indigenous Irish-owned craft brewery and underscores the company’s commitment to sustainable energy and environmental practices.
“Every KW of energy coming in to Rye River Brewing Company comes from Beale Hill wind farm in Kerry, generating green and renewable energy”
The CPPA forms part of Pinergy’s Guarantee of Origin offering, which allows companies to purchase electricity generated from Irish wind or solar farms that feed into the national grid.
The wind that powers the barley
This move to renewable energy will significantly reduce Rye River Brewing Company’s carbon footprint – equivalent to eliminating up to 222.5 flights from Dublin to New York annually.
“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,” said Tom Cronin, founder and CEO of 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.”
Ongoing sustainability efforts
Rye River Brewing Company’s commitment to sustainability has been at the forefront of the business for several years. The brewery has invested approximately €5 million in enhancing efficiency, reducing water usage by over 25% in recent years and electricity consumption by 15% since 2018.
The company has also recently partnered with Pinergy to utilize their energy management system, Acutrace, which provides clear visibility of exactly where and when energy and other utilities such as water are used and what they cost, enabling data-driven decisions to further optimize consumption.
Alan Clarke, Pinergy energy consultant, commented: “We are delighted to announce this new CPPA with Rye River Brewing Company, a true leader in the Irish craft brewing scene. This agreement demonstrates their 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.”
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 demand expected to increase substantially as more companies look to reduce their carbon footprint.
Main image at top: Pinergy energy consultant Alan Clarke with Rye River Brewery CEO Tom Cronin
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