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Ahascragh to produce zero-emission spirits
Ireland’s Ahascragh Distillery is on target to become the first zero-emission distillery in the country, backed by a €500,000 (US$502,260) grant.
Ahascragh Distillery is located in Ballinasloe, in Country Galway. It is powered by renewable energy – solar, hydro and heat pumps – and is being supported by a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant of €500,000.
Commissioning will begin in December.
The minister for the environment, climate and communications, Eamon Ryan, said: “Ireland’s first eco-distillery is an innovative example of what all Irish industry should be considering to cut cost and carbon at the same time.
“Electrification of our heat will be at the cornerstone of reducing costs and our carbon emissions in the years ahead. We are making great progress at the residential level, but industry needs to catch up and high-temperature heat pumps like the one being deployed at Ahascragh Distillery are exactly what we need.
“This is proven technology across Europe and we have a huge potential to use it here, particularly in the food and beverage sector, so I am delighted to see SEAI supporting Ahascragh to work with FDT and Astatine to deliver the first truly zero-emission spirits distillery in Ireland.”
Approximately 30 people are working on construction on the project, and 20-40 jobs will be provided when the distillery begins production.
The distillery was founded by Gareth and Michelle McAllister, who have a ‘drive to distil some of the first zero-emissions spirits in Ireland’, and change the traditional energy source for Irish whiskey production.
Successful sustainable features of the distillery include the utilising of heat pumps, so heat being delivered to the distillery is done without fossil fuels. The original building has been preserved with much of the original machinery, with wooden beams being restored and reused.
Plus, the peak heating and cooling demand has more than halved thanks to its installations.
Gareth McAllister said: “We are delighted that SEAI have recognised this energy-efficient design and are providing capital support to help realise the project.
“Ahascragh Distillery will be the first eco-distillery of this scale in Ireland to be powered by renewable energy, and will produce some of the first zero-emission Irish spirits. It is our ambition to make Irish whiskey production more sustainable and environmentally friendly. We are excited to be making whiskey history in the West of Ireland.”
In more news of sustainable spirit production, Baileys recently became B Corp-certified – the the largest spirit brand to achieve this feat.