Rye River Brewing Company secures renewable electricity from Kerry wind farm
Rye River Brewing Company, an independent craft brewery based in Celbridge Co. Kildare, has signed a one-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with Pinergy, an energy transition company.
This agreement will enable the award-winning brewery to power its entire operation using renewable energy sourced from Beale Hill wind farm in Listowel Co. Kerry.
(L-R) Tom Cronin, founder and CEO of Rye River Brewing Company and Alan Clarke, Pinergy energy consultant pictured at the Kildare-based brewery.
The initiative is among the first such contracts for an indigenous Irish-owned craft brewery committed to sustainable energy and environmental practices.
The CPPA forms part of Pinergy’s Guarantee of Origin offering, which allows companies to purchase electricity generated from wind or solar farms based in Ireland that is feeding into the national grid.
With this agreement, Rye River Brewing Company joins a growing number of Irish businesses embracing sustainable energy solutions.
This CPPA will meet 100% of the brewery’s annual energy requirements, ‘significantly’ reducing its carbon footprint and bolstering its commitment to environmental responsibility.
This move to renewable energy will significantly reduce Rye River Brewing Company’s carbon footprint, the equivalent of up to 222.5 flights from Dublin to New York annually.
Commenting on the Power Purchase Agreement, Tom Cronin, founder & CEO of Rye River Brewing Company, stated, “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.
“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.”
The company has invested approximately €5 million in enhancing efficiency at their brewery, reducing water usage by over 25% in recent years and electricity consumption by 15% since 2018.
Rye River Brewing Co. has also recently partnered with Pinergy to utilise 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 it costs, empowering Rye River Brewing Co. to make data-driven decisions and further optimise their energy and water consumption.
Alan Clarke, Pinergy energy consultant said; “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 in the coming years as more companies look to reduce their carbon footprint.
