Case Study
Supporting Simpsons Malt with renewable energy solutions
An ambitious target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 led a British whiskey distillery to implement an innovative heat-recovery system .
By Sam Rippin , Turnbull & Scott
The team at Turnbull & Scott received an enquiry from Simpsons Malt , a renowned supplier of high-quality malts who they have long supported , and for whom they have become a Trusted ™ supplier . Simpsons Malt shared their ambitious plans to meet their sustainability goals , ultimately achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 across their malting sites . Their plans involved commissioning a low-carbon Energy Centre at the Tweed Valley Maltings site in Berwick . This setup aims to save 25,000 tonnes of carbon annually , translating to an approximate 80 % reduction in carbon emissions at the UK ’ s largest malting site . Traditionally in the UK , malt is dried in kilns fed with a hot air stream . The air is heated to the required temperatures using a series of gas-fired burners . This plan includes the implementation of a pioneering 12MW electric boiler powered by ‘ curtailed ’ wind energy alongside three 6MW biomass boilers , utilising locally sourced , low-grade woodchip to replace the gas consumption of the burners .
Groundbreaking initiative In this groundbreaking initiative , the high-voltage electric boilers would be powered by wind energy , which traditionally would have been switched off during excess wind generation , addressing the issue of renewable energy wastage in the UK ’ s energy grid . The challenge for Turnbull & Scott is to help Simpsons Malt redesign the air intake stream to allow 80 % of the heat required to be delivered in the form of lowpressure hot water from the Energy Centre , rather than the traditional gas burners .
The solution The team quickly mobilised to assist Simpsons in developing an innovative malt drying solution that fitted with their plan to electrify the industrial air
38 Heat Exchanger World February 2024 www . heat-exchanger-world . com