U.K. brewery Oakham Ales this month announced the debut of a new blonde ale — its first beer made using power from a new rooftop solar array.
Oakham partnered with consulting firm CUB UK and solar power developer Electron Green to install the system, which features more than 1,000 photovoltaic panels, atop its facility in Peterborough, England.
Brewery officials noted that Electron Green provided a steel overclad roof, along with the solar system, at zero capital cost — overcoming the challenges posed by an aging roof. Electron Green, in turn, owns and manages the system but provides Oakham with discounted, fixed-rate solar electricity under a power purchase agreement.
Officials said that aging buildings represent a major hurdle for many industrial sites that would otherwise be interested in utilizing solar power.
“As energy demands are expected to rise by 50% over the next decade, businesses need confidence in their energy supply and greater control over their costs,” Electron Green CEO Daniel Green said in a statement.
The brewer, meanwhile, expects to save nearly £11,000 in its first year year, curb its use of grid electricity by 15%, and prevent more than 2,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the system.
Oakham marked the new installation with Sun City, a 3.7% alcohol by volume ale that will be available beginning next month.
“This is a huge step in making Oakham Ales more sustainable,” said Mark Tetlow, who helped lead the project before retiring as the company’s head brewer. “We’re delighted to welcome the Electron Green team along to celebrate the installation’s completion by helping us brew Sun City, our first ‘Solar Blonde.’”
