Leading rum facility going green

A million dollar solar energy plant is currently being installed at Barbados’ leading and largest rum producer.

Aimed at reducing the impact of its carbon footprint on the island, the West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD) is making the investment at its Brighton, St. Michael home with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

“We are constantly researching innovative opportunities to further improve sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

We also have new and ambitious environmental goals, and we are looking at innovative systems in order to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels and to reduce our total energy usage,” WIRD’s
managing director Andrew Hassell said.

WIRD’s new solar plant is expected to generate an output of more than 400 kilowatts and is estimated to produce 747,000 KWH in the first year of operation which will provide for at least 20 per cent of the electrical consumption of the distillery – or the equivalent of 100 local households.

To this end, WIRD has also retained a renewable energy consultant with thirty years’ experience in the field to study, establish and transform the distillery into a carbon neutral operation within
the next ten years.

“This solar plant is the cornerstone of our green initiatives. The roof structure first had to be redone, and then the roof sheets had to be replaced. Williams Solar of Williams Industries is the company responsible for phase one of project. The Williams Solar team are in the process of installing the solar panels,” added WIRD’s engineering manager Michael Marshall.

WIRD continues to invest in creating a sustainable rum industry, while providing meaningful jobs and producing fine Barbadian rums such as Plantation Rum.

The distillery also has other plans in the pipeline to assist with the reduction of carbon emissions that will come on stream later this year. (PR)