Oakham leads the way with ‘solar-powered’ beer
Peterborough-based Oakham Ales has debuted its first beer made using power from its new rooftop solar panels.
The sustainable brewery set-up features more than 1,000 photovoltaic panels and is down to the brewer having recently partnered with consulting firm CUB UK and solar power developer Electron Green to install the system.
The partnership was part of a “power purchase agreement”, which saw Electron Green providing a steel overclad roof, along with the solar system, at zero capital cost to Oakham. Added to this, Electron Green will then oversee the management of the system while providing the brewery with discounted, fixed-rate solar electricity.
Speaking about the project, Electron Green CEO Daniel Green said: “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,”
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Oakham Ales has revealed that the deal is a win-win situation and now expects to save nearly £11,000 within its first year as well as have a means of curbing its use of grid electricity by 15%, and preventing more than 2,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the system.
The new 3.7% ABV “solar blonde” ale, named Sun City, made completely from solar power produced on-site at the brewery will go on sale in August
Mark Tetlow, who helped lead the project before retiring as Oakham’s head brewer, added: “This is a huge step in making Oakham Ales more sustainable. 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.”
Oakham Ales has often been at the forefront of leading beer styles, for instance, Oakham’s Jeffrey Hudson Bitter (JHB) is a beer some say gave Brits a taste for US hops and a move which effectively preceded the UK’s craft beer revolution was rumoured to have assisted the nation’s palates in leaning into brighter, zestier more resinous hop styles. JHB was first brewed by Oakham founder John Wood in the early nineties after he researched taste preferences from British pubs.
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