Brewing is an undeniably energy-intensive industry, and with UK Government pushing forward with plans to decarbonise the economy across all sectors, all brewers are considering how they use energy, and where their energy comes from. 

For breweries located off the mains gas-grid, options for a greener future may seem limited, but renewable liquid gases (RLGs), such as bioLPG and rDME, have secured approval from the Government to be developed at scale and will be coming onto the market in the coming years. 

With the cost and efficiency of electricity being a prohibitive factor for some brewers, bioLPG and rDME will offer a ‘drop in’ solution. This means no changes or recommissioning of the brewhouse will be required given these new green fuels are chemically identical to conventional liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

The key difference however is that the new RLGs are produced from sustainable feedstocks rather than traditional fossil fuels, offering up to 90% carbon emissions reductions or even carbon negative when carbon capture and storage is used in their production.  

Energy use 

Energy in brewing is broken down into two primary units – thermal to generate heat or steam, and electrical for power. 

While energy use in breweries varies depending on size, location and types of beers produced, well over a third of the total energy used in most breweries is spent on boiling the wort. 

As the brewing process is complex, with brewers requiring flexibility from day to day in brew schedules, and with heat used in several stages, a versatile and reliable fuel source is needed.

Although boilers run on a range of fuels, options can be limited for the significant proportion of the UK’s regional breweries operating off the mains gas grid. 

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) 

Currently, the most efficient fuel for off-grid heat is LPG.

Not only does LPG provide an instant, efficient heat source, it also offers reduced emissions compared to solid fuels.

Renewable liquid gases (RLGs)

As the brewing sector strives to use more renewable energy, the liquid gas industry has a solution. 

CEO of trade association Liquid Gas UK, George Webb, explains: “While LPG is already considered a cleaner fuel choice, we recognise it doesn’t go far enough in tackling climate change, which is why the liquid gas industry launched its ambition to transition to 100% renewables by 2040, in order to meet net zero.”

He adds that a cleaner fuel source in the form of RLGs will soon be available for off-grid industries and properties.

“Made from a diverse mix of sustainable biological feedstocks and processes, RLGs are chemically identically to LPG and considered a ‘drop-in’ solution,” says Webb. 

RLGs offer up to a 90% reduction in carbon emissions and carry the same low nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter as conventional LPG, contributing to cleaner air quality.

“Because they’re chemically identical, RLGs can be used with existing tanks and appliances,” he adds. 

“They also improve energy security by reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, which was a big concern for the brewing industry last year.”

Biomass Strategy

In August this year, the Government published the long-awaited Biomass Strategy. Biomass is part of the Government’s renewable energy strategy and its ambitious plan to accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy across all sectors. 

Central to achieving net zero by 2050 is the transition to wide-scale adoption of low-carbon technologies. 

Importantly, the Biomass Strategy recognises the role of RLGs to decarbonise heating and meet net zero targets.

“The inclusion of RLGs in the strategy not only gives the green light for LPG producers to ramp up domestic production, but it also averts the potential scenario of increased operational costs that brewers would’ve faced if the transition to electrified heating was enforced,” explains Webb. 

“We’re pleased the Government signalled their support for RLGs and the important role they play in the future off-grid energy mix in the Biomass Strategy. 

“It’s great to know customers can now opt for this low-carbon ‘drop-in’ solution – avoiding unnecessary costly retrofits and appliance changes at a time when finances are tight for so many.”

He explains that, for brewers, the prospect of replacing direct or steam boilers to suit electrified heating elements would have required significant capital investment and greater ongoing costs.

“It would also mean a shift to a heating source that doesn’t offer the same reliable level of control or heat consistency as LPG. This could have affected the quality and consistency of the beer being brewed.

“If multiple industries had to switch to electrification, we’d also see issues with the electricity grid being unable to meet demand, particularly in more rural areas, so it’s a comfort for brewers to know that LPG and RLGs are a futureproof fuel they can continue to order and use with confidence,” he goes on. 

He adds, to date, the industry has invested more than £260 million in developing and deploying RLG solutions, with a further £600 million investment forecast over the next two years.

As the demand for biomass sources increases, Webb points out that brewers may be able to monetise their spent malt and hops with a biomass processing company, which could provide a new revenue stream and a circular solution which could see these feedstocks return to the brewery in bioLPG or rDME tanks as new fuel.  

About Liquid Gas UK 

Liquid Gas UK is the trade association for the LPG and renewable liquid gas (RLG) industry in the UK, representing a membership of companies who are LPG and RLG producers, distributors, equipment manufacturers and service providers. Member companies supply over 99% of the total LPG in the UK marketplace, and 100% of RLG. 

Liquid Gas UK takes a leading role in liaising and consulting with UK Government and Devolved Administrations to shape policy with respect to the decarbonisation of heat, transport and industry. 

The LPG market in the UK is a £1.1 billion turnover industry and, in the run up to 2025, £600m is expected to be invested industry-wide, with £260m being invested in renewable liquid gas alone.