Annandale Distillery will be the first in the world to use new thermal energy storage technology as part of a £3.6m trial funded by the department for energy security & net zero.
Described as game changer in the race to net zero, the new ‘decarbonisation machine’ can replace up to 100% of the fossil fuels currently used in high temperature industrial processes.
The technology has been developed by new University of Edinburgh spinout, Exergy3, which was awarded funding from the UK government’s £55m industrial fuel switching competition.
Professor David Thomson, Annandale’s co-owner, commented: “Our distillery is on a journey towards net zero. Being able to raise all of the steam we need via green electricity would be a massive step forward for us, and for the Scotch whisky industry as a whole. We look forward to partnering with Exergy3 on delivering this really important project.”
Exergy3’s energy storage system takes excess renewable energy from the national grid and stores it with minimal energy losses. The technology was invented by Dr Adam Robinson, now chief technology officer at Exergy3, and the team has said the technology can store up to 36 MWh of thermal energy, which can be easily transported and installed on site.
CEO of Exergy3, Dr Markus Rondé, added: “We are very excited about the potential applications of this technology, from process heat provision for large-scale industry, to decarbonising buildings through residential heating networks.
“Our system charges quickly, can store more energy at higher temperatures than other systems, with less thermal energy loss, and is easily transported and installed with minor disruption of the user’s site.
“In my view, this technology is a game changer in the race to net zero, as we believe that we will be able to offer a commercially viable pathway to decarbonisation to industrial energy users within the next few years.”
More information can be found at Annandale’s website.
