By Caribbean News Global 
LONDON, England – A new UK government scheme which opened on August 17, 2020, affords Whisky and spirit lovers the world over their favourite tipple in the knowledge that they are helping to cut carbon emissions and support new green jobs.
Kwasi Kwarteng, minister for energy and clean growth, announced the opening of the £10 million fund, which is being made available to kick-start green innovation across Scotland’s iconic distillery industry. The move gives backing to distilleries across the UK to harness energy sources such as low-carbon hydrogen, biomass and repurposed waste to power their operations.
The funding will help prevent pollution equivalent to emissions from 100,000 cars from entering the atmosphere, contributing towards the UK’s legally-binding target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Energy and Clean Growth Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, said: “Our plan to deliver a carbon-neutral future doesn’t just mean new jobs in new industries but helping some of our oldest industries to play their part as well. We want to harness the tremendous innovation of our distilleries so customers can enjoy their favourite tipple in the knowledge they are helping us to tackle climate change.”
In 2019, the UK distilleries industry grew by 20 percent, demonstrating the opportunity for the sector to be at the heart of a clean and resilient recovery. The funding has been welcomed by trade bodies in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, which are home to the vast majority of the UK’s world-famous distilleries.
Dagmar Droogsma, director of industry at the Scotch Whisky Association, said: “The Scotch Whisky industry welcomed the new Green Distilling Fund announced in the March Budget as an important step on our sustainability journey. The use of innovative technology is among several approaches that the industry could adopt as it works towards net zero by 2045, as outlined in our recent net zero report. This Fund will provide us with the opportunity to put forward bids for demonstration projects for so-far untested technologies, helping the Scotch Whisky industry play its part in reaching Scotland’s emissions targets.”
Michael Bell, executive director of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, said: “ Greening is essential to our industry’s future and this is to be welcomed. Interestingly, in the last five years I’ve seen more distilleries in Northern Ireland than in the last 50. It’s good to see the government investing in food and drink businesses.”
