Diageo has announced plans to invest more than €100 million to decarbonise its historic St. James’s Gate site in Dublin 8, where Guinness has been brewed for 264 years.
The investment underpins the company’s goal to accelerate to net zero carbon emissions for the site and will transform energy and water consumption with the aim to make it one of the most efficient breweries in the world by 2030.
The investment was announced at St. James’s Gate by Diageo’s Global CEO, Debra Crew where she was joined by the Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and the CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Leo Clancy, who are providing Government-backed support for the decarbonisation project.
The investment will enable St. James’s Gate to entirely phase out the use of fossil fuels in its direct brewing operations and reduce Scope 1+2 GHG emissions generated by the site by more than 90%, in line with the Science Based Target initiative’s definition of net zero.
By 2030, the site’s renewable energy strategy will combine the use of grid-supplied electrical power heat pumps; and biogas generated within a new water recovery facility. This facility will also improve water use efficiency and enable a projected reduction in the water used to brew Guinness by 30%.
Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed the leadership Diageo was demonstrating for industry on decarbonising its operations and being at the forefront of sustainable business, said: “Industry is a key pillar of national and global efforts to address climate change, and it is welcome and important that Diageo is showing leadership by decarbonising its operations here in its home city.
“Guinness has been made in Dublin for over a quarter of a millennium, and today so many tourists visit the location while they are here. It’s not just a green transformation for St. James’s Gate but a flagship transformation that will send a strong message to the world. It also demonstrates the Government’s commitment to businesses, big and small, to make the green transition, and to work in partnership to help achieve our climate goals.”
Diageo’s Global Chief Executive Officer, Debra Crew, added: “I want to thank the Taoiseach and Minister Burke for their support for our ambitious decarbonisation plan for St. James’s Gate as demonstrated by the support from our partners Enterprise Ireland.
“St. James’s Gate is an historic location for an iconic brand. We’re 260 years into our 9,000-year lease at St. James’s Gate and this investment will ensure that Guinness has an exciting and long-term sustainable future. We are proud to lead the way on decarbonisation, both as a major Irish business and as an industry-leading company.”
Diageo said it was taking action across its operations globally and in Ireland to reduce its carbon emissions in line with its 10-year ESG action plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress. Diageo is working towards significant science-based action to create a sustainable low carbon future.
The Guinness announcement represents the next step in an integrated approach towards that by becoming net zero in its direct operations.
Diageo is preparing a planning application for this decarbonisation project that will be submitted to Dublin City Council later this year and will be engaging with industry experts, local communities and representatives prior to submitting the application.
