(Scotland) – Spirits company Beam Suntory Inc. has produced whisky using hydrogen for the first time. The British government funded the pilot project, “WhiskHy,” with £2,9 million (€3,4 million) through the Department for Energy’s “Green Distilleries Competition” program.
Matt Bird, CEO of Supercritical Solutions: “This technology will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of distilleries.” BU © Supercritical Solutions Ltd. / LinkedIn
The project partner was London-based Supercritical Solutions Ltd. “We have developed a highly efficient 230 bar high pressure electrolyser that enables on-site hydrogen production using renewable energy sources,” says CEO and co-founder Matt Bird. This technology helps “significantly reduce the carbon footprint of distilleries.” Beam Suntory aims to “achieve net-zero emissions across our entire value chain by 2040, and through collaborative projects like WhiskHy we are achieving that,” says Alistair Longwell, Head of Distilling and Environment.
The test took place at the Japanese Yamazaki distillery in Shimamoto in collaboration with the Suntory team and the pilot distillery was planned specifically for the project. The hydrogen was used to heat the boiler (“stillness”). “Direct firing” is considered a traditional method of distillation in which a flame is used directly instead of heating the boiler indirectly via superheated steam pipes.
Hydrogen reduces CO2 emissions by 100 percent
According to Beam Suntory, this process is “key to the WhiskHy project as it offers the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 100 percent when using green hydrogen.” The direct flame can also be used to influence the quality and character of the spirit because the Maillard reactions are easier to control. As with roasting and deep-frying foods, these cause aromas to form and develop.
Some of the spirit produced in this way is now aged at the Scottish distillery Glen Garioch to monitor and document maturation and quality.
Beam Suntory employs around 6.000 people in more than 30 countries. The subsidiary of the Japanese Suntory Holdings Limited has its corporate headquarters in New York City. The company was created with the takeover of Beam Inc. by the Japanese beverage manufacturer Suntory Holdings in 2014.
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Beam Suntory has used hydrogen for the first time to produce whiskey using the direct firing method. © Beam Suntory Inc.
