UK sets up fund to help distilleries slash carbon emission

The UK government has created a £10m fund to help 17 distilleries to go green by switching to low carbon fuels such as hydrogen.

Funding will be offered to 11 Scottish distilleries and six distilleries based in England, enabling these distilleries to kick-start green innovations.

UK Energy and Clean Growth Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Building back greener from the pandemic is something we can all raise a toast to.

“Every business can play a part in the green industrial revolution and this funding will allow UK distilleries to lead the way by making their production cleaner while also creating jobs.”

Funding will help the distilleries to harness energy sources such as low-carbon hydrogen, biomass, and repurposed waste to power their operations.

As part of this initiative, the distilleries will be receiving funding ranging between £44,000 and £75,000 in the first phase.

The government anticipates that the funding will allow distilleries to cut a million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which will be equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road.

Distilleries welcomed the rollout of the first phase of funding to cut carbon emissions and support new green jobs.

In the 2020 Budget, the UK government allocated £10m for research and development to help decarbonise UK distilleries.

UK Government Scotland Minister Iain Stewart said: “It is fantastic to see so many Scottish distilleries awarded this UK government funding. Scotland is world-famous for its whisky and gin, with the spirits industry one of our greatest success stories.

“This new funding will help the industry continue to build on its great work in tackling climate change.

“From Aberdeen and Glasgow to Orkney and South Uist, this funding will help create jobs, support local businesses and communities, and build back greener ahead of COP26 in Glasgow later this year.”