One of the world’s biggest beer exporters has lodged bold plans to make its Aberdeenshire site more eco-friendly, saying the responsibility of battling climate change now lies on the shoulders of businesses.
Brewdog has submitted an application to Aberdeenshire Council detailing aims to make its native Ellon headquarters carbon neutral.
The beer giant wants to create an anaerobic digestion plant – which breaks down bacteria in an eco-friendly manner – along with a water treatment plant and a CO2 recovery plant in order to drastically reduce any harm the base could cause the environment,
The proposals are part of a £14 million pound project to make Brewdog “the world’s most sustainable drinks firm”.
If approved, the company hopes its premises on Balmacassie Drive would become carbon neutral by 2022.
Planning documents state: “Following the Covid pandemic there will be pressure on businesses to help prevent global emissions continuing their upward trajectory.
“This project is a significant investment for the Brewdog business. The bio-energy supply will improve the environmental impact of the Brewery site and significantly reduce its overall carbon emissions.
“Efficient low-energy treatment and use of clean heat in the brewery will put Brewdog’s Ellon brewery at the vanguard of Scotland’s food sector ‘net zero’ transition.”
Brewdog, which was founded in Fraserburgh in 2007, will reduce its £2m annual disposal costs by around 50%, as well as cutting other costs at the site if the plans are rubber-stamped by the local authority.
The firm claims the work will also help meet the target set by the Scottish Government for meeting carbon net zero by 2045 and “will put the business at the forefront of the transition of the brewing sector to zero-carbon manufacturing and distribution.”
