Laois brewery Ballykilcavan in line for another big award

Fresh from winning big at the Blas na hÉireann Awards the team at Stradbally's Ballykilcavan Brewery has made the final of the SEAI Energy Awards 2023.

The SEAI says the awards recognise exceptional achievements in sustainable energy and decarbonisation across various sectors, these awards celebrate individuals, organisations and businesses that are leading the charge in Ireland’s energy transition.

The organisers say that within this year's remarkable lineup of organisations, is the Ballykilcavan Brewery. SEAI say it stands out as a finalist in the SME Category, underscoring “their remarkable” contributions to sustainability and energy efficiency within the small and medium-sized business sector.

Ballykilcavan Brewery, which is owned by David and Lisa Walsh Kemmis wife uses 100% Irish barley grown on their own farm to create their beer. SEAI say the sustainable energy activities of the brewery focus on decarbonising the beer production process with the primary goal of reducing cost and achieving zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of 2024. They have installed solar panel arrays, increasing power generation by 306% and reducing energy imports from the grid by 32.7% per litre of beer produced. Switching to a 100% renewable energy supplier, they have had a 77% reduction in the overall carbon footprint of the brewery compared to the previous year.

The impact on the business has been significant cost savings, with energy expenditure reduced to 40% of previous levels.
SEAI says the success of this project is motivating them to plan for the next phase with the hydro installation.
SEAI say all finalists represent a wide spectrum of sectors, each passionately contributing to a sustainable energy low carbon future. The high quality of entries for the SEAI Energy Awards 2023 reflects the innovation and dedication prevalent in Ireland's sustainability landscape.

William Walsh is the CEO of SEAI.

“Each year, we see an ever-increasing standard in the SEAI Energy Awards for sustainability, highlighting the emergence of exciting new sustainable energy solutions from businesses across the country.

“It’s more important than ever for Ireland to have role models who exhibit the highest levels of drive and innovation, and so I commend this year's nominees, whose dedication serves as a source of inspiration to others,” he said.

The winners of each category will be revealed at a special awards ceremony taking place on November 16.