Guinness parent company Diageo has announced €100 million plans to decarbonize the historic St. James' Gate brewery in Dublin.
The investment, announced Thursday morning at the Dublin 8 brewery, is part of Diageo's plans to accelerate net zero carbon emissions at the Guinness brewery and make the site one of the most efficient breweries in the world by 2030.
Debra Crew, Diageo’s Global CEO, was joined by Taoiseach Simon Harris, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, for Thursday morning's announcement.
The investment will enable the brewery to phase out the use of fossil fuels in its direct brewing operations and reduce all emissions generated by the site by 90%.
By 2030, the site will combine the use of grid-supplied electrical power heat pumps and biogas generated within a new water recovery facility.
The facility will also improve water use efficiency, enabling a reduction in the water used to brew Guinness by 30%.
Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed the decarbonization plans, stating that industry plays a vital role in the national effort to address climate change.
"Industry is a key pillar of national and global efforts to address climate change, and it is welcome and important that Diageo is showing leadership by decarbonizing its operations here in its home city," Harris said at Thursday's announcement.
"Guinness has been made in Dublin for over a quarter of a millennium, and today so many tourists visit the location while they are here. It’s not just a green transformation for St. James’s Gate but a flagship transformation that will send a strong message to the world.
"It also demonstrates the Government’s commitment to businesses, big and small, to make the green transition, and to work in partnership to help achieve our climate goals."
Debra Crew said the investment would ensure Guinness's long-term sustainable future and make it an industry leader in the fight against climate change.
"St. James’ Gate is a historic location for an iconic brand. We’re 260 years into our 9,000-year lease at St. James’s Gate and this investment will ensure that Guinness has an exciting and long-term sustainable future," Crew said.
"We are proud to lead the way on decarbonization, both as a major Irish business and as an industry-leading company."
Diageo is currently preparing a planning application for the decarbonization plan that will be filed with Dublin City Council later in the year, while the company will also be engaging with industry experts and local residents in the coming months.
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