2015
When we built the distillery, we installed low energy technologies, such as Thermal Vapour Recompression, colling towers and a gas economiser on our boiler
We have used 100% Fife grown barley from Kingdom Farming, Balgonie Estate in our brands since day one, recognising our brand motto of ‘Fife Grown, Fife distilled, Fife Matured’
Muntons have been our maltster (apart from peated malt) since the beginning, due to their strong sustainability credentials. When they opened a peated malt site, we moved our peated malt orders to them, meaning that 100% of our malt comes from Muntons.
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2019
Having used Scottish grown rye since the beginning, in 2019 we took it a step further by sourcing 100% Fife-grown rye for our brands.
We commissioned our first carbon footprint analysis. With assistance from Scottish Enterprise, we commissioned Eunomia to carry out an initial carbon footprint calculation in 2019, based on the 2018 distillation year. Findings showed that our malt was responsible for approximately 56% of our carbon footprint, and 32% from burning gas.
Always looking for opportunities to make more energy related changes, we switched our electricity supply to 100% renewable energy towards the end of this year.
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2020
The carbon footprint report was updated in 2020 to account for the switch to renewable energy.
From the report, the growing of barley (due in large part to the emissions related to the production and application of nitrogen-based fertilisers) was a higher proportion of the greenhouse gas emissions than the malting of the barley. Therefore, we sponsored research in the Yield Enhancement Network Net Zero programme to better understand where the emissions come from in a field, and how they can be reduced.
2021
Even with such energy efficiency measures in place, we still use a lot of fuel to create steam for distillation. And with 32% of our greenhouse gas emissions coming from burning gas, we needed to look for alternatives. Therefore, we commissioned a hydrogen feasibility study with ARUP, who looked at using hydrogen as our primary fuel source, displacing natural gas. This research led to our decision to switch to green hydrogen.
We switched our malted barley supply to Munton’s, who are actively reducing their greenhouse gas emissions in the malting process
2022
Commissioned a heat pump feasibility study – The feasibility study showed that we could collect the heat turn it into steam and use it to eliminate all the additional energy required by the mashing plant.
2023
Triggered by the findings in the carbon footprint report, and with a greater understanding of the need to support wider environmental aims in agriculture, we sponsored a cover crop trial at Balgonie Farm (Kingdom farming) through Scottish Agronomy. This research will work towards understanding whether cover crops can reduce nitrogen fertiliser use in subsequent cereal crop (and therefore carbon footprint) and improve soil functionality and health. Results pending.
The UK government awarded funding to 11 successful green hydrogen projects under its first hydrogen allocation round (HAR1) – and InchDairnie Distillery was one of them, which means from 2027, Scottish Power will provide us with a green hydrogen supply.
Electric charging units installed on site
2024
Hydrogen ready boiler installed, with a deaerator for increased efficiency, ready for our green hydrogen supply in 2027.
We were delighted to win a Fife Business Award for Sustainability & Net Zero, recognising our early and ongoing efforts to be an energy efficient distillery.
Recognising the increased need for a wider portfolio of sustainability related activities beyond looking at energy and emissions, we employed a Sustainability Manager.
We are now developing a more holistic sustainability strategy which includes wider topics such as land, water, packaging and waste, among others.
2025
Our Sustainability Strategy will be launched
We hope to submit our B Corp Assessment for certification
2027
We hope to have our 100% green hydrogen supply from Scottish Power for use in our steam boiler.