Vital Energi are working in partnership with AMP Clean Energy and Simpsons Malt to create an innovative new renewable energy system which will reduce their carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes per year. The project will take place at Simpsons Malt’s Tweed Valley Maltings headquarters in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, Northumberland. This is the UK’s largest malting site, and our work will result in an 80% carbon reduction for the site.
Founded in 1862 and based in Northumberland, Simpsons Malt uses large amounts of heat for the malting process. The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain estimates that producing just 1 tonne of malt takes 750kWh of gas and 150kWh of electricity, illustrating just how energy-intensive the process can be.
The company is a signatory to Science Based Targets and a Certified B Corporation, with the goal of achieving net zero Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030, which is 20 years ahead of targets set in the Paris Agreement.
While meeting their own net zero targets is important, Simpsons Malt is also aware that, as a key supplier to the Scotch whisky industry - around 90% of the malt produced at the Tweed Valley Maltings site is for the distilling industry - they will play a significant role in reducing their customers’ Scope 3 emissions to help meet their net zero targets.
With 90% of the malt produced on site destined for distilleries, decarbonising their malting process will not only help meet their net zero targets, but also those of the industry.
To put the impact of this project into perspective, 2.5kg of malt is required to produce just one litre of whisky and this new system will save 275g of carbon for every litre produced.
By achieving this, Simpsons Malt can affirm its position as an industry leader for sustainability and the ideal supplier for distilleries looking to meet their net zero targets.
The project has an innovative technical and commercial solution which, as standard, generates heat using three biomass boilers. At other times, when the project receives free electricity from a North Sea wind farm, a 12MW electric boiler will be the primary heat generator.
Vital Energi are designing and building the heat generation plant, distribution network, and in-kiln heating systems which will generate approximately 25,000 tonnes of carbon reduction per year.
The Commercial Opportunity
Ideally, North Sea windfarms operate at a constant rate of electrical generation. Lowering their output or stopping altogether is extremely inefficient. A problem is created because the UK’s electricity grid is restricted and there are times when it cannot transmit the electricity from rural Scotland, where most North Sea windfarm power sees landfall, to the large, urban areas where it is required.
A better solution to lowering or stopping production is to find a customer who could take this electricity when necessary and the benefits to the wind producers are so great that they can not only offer free electricity but can sometime incentivise recipients.
