Edinburgh Napier University

  A recent study undertaken under the Energy Technology Partnership (PJ0208-EUB) identified hydrogen energy solutions for a craft distillery based on the Islands of Orkney. The proposed solution of utilising locally generated hydrogen to displace both electric and LPG fuels in such an energy intensive environment significantly reduces the carbon impact of the processes and provides a new development sector for brewing/distilling appliance design to meet growing craft brewing and distilling demands.
The project requires the development of a thermal fluid heater to operate with hydrogen as the combustion fuel enabling the thermal process heat requirements to be delivered from a packaged appliance operating within a safe and controllable environment. The benefits include the ability to utilise lower cost (non ATEX rated) equipment, removal of direct combustion systems from a flammable environment and labour savings through not having to ensure plant attendants are present when utilising pressurised steam systems.
The greater benefits are the replicability of such technology across the sector. It is estimated that there are presently some 315 distilleries across the UK, 201 of which have opened in the last five years. The technology can be retrofitted into existing infrastructure and as the hydrogen economy grows will provide a significant carbon reduction opportunity within the industrial process sector.