THE GlenAllachie Distillery has marked progress in its sustainability journey after unveiling a distillation system which is tipped to reduce energy usage by over 50% during the wash distillation process.
Supported by the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), a Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) system has been installed to capture and recycle waste heat from distillation, using it to reheat the stills.
Developed in partnership with Briggs of Burton, the stills at GlenAllachie Distillery are set to fire up again in the coming weeks with this ‘first-of-its-kind’ technology in place.
Under the stewardship of industry veteran Billy Walker, the MVR installation is one of several sustainability initiatives at the Speyside-based distillery. These efforts include a transition away from natural gas in favour of electricity, partially powered by 144 solar panels installed on site.
Since taking over ownership in 2017, the distillery has also intentionally reduced its production capacity from four million to one million litres of alcohol (LOA) per year, significantly lowering overall energy demand. This shift is said to have allowed The GlenAllachie to operate on a small-batch scale, placing ‘full emphasis on spirit quality’.
Billy Walker, owner of The GlenAllachie, said, “Our pot stills lie at the heart of what we do and account for around 60% of our total energy consumption. That’s why finding a more sustainable way to power them has been such a priority. Support from the SIETF has made it possible for us to take on a project of this scale and this new technology, combined with our investment in on-site solar panels, has enabled us to shrink our carbon footprint even further.
“Reaching this milestone brings us ever closer to realising our vision for The GlenAllachie’s future. This is not about increasing capacity, it’s about building the next chapter of The GlenAllachie’s legacy, rooted in quality, tradition, and innovation.”
In line with its commitment to the Scotch Whisky Association’s 2040 net zero target, The GlenAllachie said it continues to pursue solutions that reduce its carbon footprint while respecting the traditions of Scotch whisky making. Recent initiatives include installing a burner with the ability to be powered by hydrogen fuel, a heat recovery system, bio-gas processing, and electric forklifts in its warehouses. Biodiversity efforts include the maintenance of beehives across the estate, while environmentally conscious packaging choices have been implemented, such as FSC-approved labels and recyclable glass bottles.
