Whiskey lovers, raise a glass! Alcoholic beverage giant Diageo is cleaning up its act at two major production facilities. They’re swapping gas-guzzling boilers for cutting-edge tech (heat batteries) that runs on clean energy. It’s a big win for those sipping sustainable cocktails.
Why this is rather huge
Diageo, the folks behind everything from Bulleitt Bourbon to Captain Morgan, is partnering with energy innovator Rondo Energy. The kicker? These guys are building massive Heat Batteries, like giant brick versions of your toaster, and they’re set to replace natural gas at Diageo’s Kentucky and Illinois sites.
The US Department of Energy likes what it sees. They’re throwing a handsome $75 million at this project – a chunk of change from Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
Think about booze-making: distilling, bottling, cleaning – it takes a ton of heat, typically generated by burning fossil fuels. Not great for the planet. Rondo’s Heat Batteries turn renewable energy into toasty warm bricks, storing that power to run Diageo’s operations without the carbon footprint.
These upgrades will slash 17,000 metric tons of emissions – that’s like taking over 4,000 cars off the road each year! Plus, this could set the standard for other factories to follow. Think of it as a blueprint for cleaner manufacturing.
Heat Batteries: What the experts say
We all love a good tech story, but does this pencil out? Experts said using hydrogen to power these batteries is the tricky part, but overall, they think it’s a sound concept.
Here’s the science bit: the Rondo Heat Battery grabs power from solar and wind when it’s available. Then, it stores that energy by heating bricks to a scorching 1500 degrees Celsius. Think of it as a super long-lasting hot water bottle for your entire factory. You can read more about it here in our previous coverage.
The best part? These batteries can run pretty much non-stop even if the renewable energy source is only juicing them up for a few hours daily.
The RHB300 facility, for example, offers an impressive 300 MWh energy storage capacity, coupled with a 20 MWt discharge capability. It can charge at up to 70 MWac and delivers heat continuously around the clock. The system boasts unlimited cycles and a lifespan exceeding 40 years, all while maintaining zero emissions.
Rondo, with backing from big names like Bill Gates, oil giant Saudi Aramco is on a mission to make industrial heat cleaner. So the next time you take a sip of your favorite Diageo tipple, you can feel a little better knowing it was made with a bit less environmental guilt.
