Ireland: Diageo plans to invest in carbon neutral brewery

Alcoholic drinks firm Diageo has announced plans to invest €200 million ($202 million) in Ireland’s first purpose-built carbon neutral brewery in Kildare.

According to sources, the new facility will produce lagers and ales, and with a capacity of 2 million hectolitres, it will become the second largest brewing plant in Ireland.

The brewery will be working with 100% renewable energy and will make use of the latest process technology to reduce energy and water consumption, avoiding 15,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per year.

The new state-of-the-art facility will allow St James’s Gate to increase the production of Guinness, contribute to the creation of approximately 1,000 jobs, and enable growth in beer exports from Ireland.

Colin O’Brien, category head of global beer supply, Diageo said: “We are fully committed to embedding sustainability across our business from grain to glass and this announcement represents the next step in our integrated approach towards achieving one of Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress commitments by becoming carbon neutral in our direct operations”.

Diageo will apply to Kildare County Council in September and, under its approval, after 2 years of construction period, it’s expected to start brewing in 2024.

Sources: Diageo