Beam Suntory Produces Green Energy Whisky
A pilot distillery in Japan is producing whiskey using 100% hydrogen as the fuel source for direct-fired distillation. The UK Government-funded WhiskHy project was tested at the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery in Osaka by Beam Suntory and Supercritical Solutions.
As a traditional distilling method, direct firing is heated by flame rather than indirect heating by steam coils, typically with natural gas. However, the “world-first” trial was heated with 100% hydrogen.
According to the companies, local hydrogen was used in the trial. However, in subsequent phases, green hydrogen will be used. By using 100% green hydrogen, carbon emissions from the distillation process will be eliminated.
Beam Suntory Produces Green Energy Whisky
Alistair Longwell, Head of Distilling and Environment at Beam Suntory, explained, “We have an ambition to achieve Net Zero emissions across our entire value chain by 2040, and it is through unique collaborative projects such as WhiskHy that we will get there.”
Scotland’s Glen Garioch Distillery, part of Beam Suntory, will cask a portion of the whisky.
According to Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, he was very satisfied and thrilled to achieve the new milestone. The project is supported by £2.9m funding from the United Kingdom’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) Green Distilleries competition.
In November 2023, Supercritical demonstrated a method for producing and storing hydrogen on-site using green hydrogen water electrolysis. By eliminating membranes, iridium, and compressors, the solution will reduce green hydrogen production costs as well as address supply chain challenges.
In a statement, Chief Executive Officer Matt Bird said the Japanese trial marked a significant step forward in hydrogen fuel development. The companies plan to introduce 100% green hydrogen at Glen Garioch Distillery in the near future.
The Beam Suntory Company is an American-founded Japanese multinational beverage company based in Osaka, Japan. It is the third-largest distillery in the world behind Diageo and Pernod Ricard.