Scotch Whisky Industry - Scotch Whisky Association

The North British Distillery: Case StudyThe Edinburgh-based The North BritishDistillery Company Ltd. embarked on itsSustainability Project at the end of 2009.The Gorgie grain distillery, the secondlargest in the industry, is a joint venturebetween The Edrington Group and Diageoand supplies to some of the most famousspirit brands including The Famous Grouseand J&B.Key objectives were identified as criticalto the future sustainability of distilleryoperations; to reduce the energy profile ofthe business and to reduce the environmentalfootprint and impact of spirit production.The project will be managed in a stagedapproach that will require each stage tobe verified on its technical capability andefficiency of operation before proceedingto the next. Subsequent stages will only beprogressed where clear future economicbenefits can be identified.Stage one involves the installation of ananaerobic digester to convert evaporatorcondensate from the distillers dark grainsprocess, grey water and spent wash centrateinto biogas. A dedicated biogas boiler willburn the gas to produce process steam.Stage two will see the expansion of the newanaerobic digestion plant and the installationof a new water treatment plant (WTP) toprocess effluent from the digester. The WTPwill improve effluent quality and provideclean water which can be recycled back intothe process. The final stage will involve theinstallation of a gas engine derived combinedheat and power (CHP) plant to produceelectricity from the biogas.The project seeks to produce up to 1MWeof renewable electrical energy, save 1MWethrough less intensive energy use of theexisting evaporation plant and recycle 40%of the effluent produced by the distilleryback into the process. Implementation of theproject will reduce CO 2emissions by 9000tonnes per year (equivalent to driving aroundthe world 1415 times).The distillery’s aspiration is to expand itsanaerobic digestion and electrical generationcapacity to 3MWe so that it will be a nonimporterof electrical energy.AD plant under construction9