Video transcript for "Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) - Lymestone Brewery"
Original video: https://youtu.be/xuv0Z9xc6to?si=HuO3GXWKagwbtZIT
How SEND is helping Lymestone Brewery learn and refine their sustainability and energy use.
Businesses and universities are important to each other in driving the innovation the UK needs for clean growth and in tackling climate change - one of the biggest barriers to future prosperity. SEND is about developing new opportunities from the challenge.
The SEND project is helping companies research and develop these solutions. We are offering opportunities for partnership with Staffordshire-based small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), giving them a specialist graduate researcher to support the business ideas for three years.
Find out more at : www.keele.ac.uk/send
The SEND project (ref. 32R16P00706) is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme, and is available to ERDF eligible companies. The project is also receiving funds from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
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My name is Viv Bradford, and together with my husband Ian and our daughter Sarah, we operate the Limestone Brewery here in Stone. This building dates back to 1889 when it was originally established as a brewery. Given its historical nature, we've always been mindful of maximizing our efficiency.
We have been longstanding members of the Staffordshire Environmental Quality Mark and have held this designation for several years. Additionally, we are members of S-Ben, which reflects our ongoing interest in conservation, sustainability, and minimizing our carbon footprint. Therefore, it was a natural step for us to explore the next available project in these areas.
Our collaboration with SEND has been a fascinating endeavor. It has provided us with the opportunity to delve into our energy consumption patterns, understanding why and how we use energy, and identifying ways to mitigate our energy-related challenges. This involves examining our electricity consumption, particularly in the brewing process, where heating and cooling operations play a significant role.
We are also looking at how to manage our waste more efficiently. Currently, our spent grains are utilized by a local farmer, but we are exploring the potential for more energy-efficient uses. This project offers a wide-ranging opportunity to evaluate our entire business, explore new ideas, and consider energy-efficient practices.
While energy and sustainability may not be our core expertise, we are committed to pursuing our goals. We recognize what we want to achieve but may not always know how to get there. That's where this project becomes invaluable. It provides us access to individuals with far more knowledge, skills, and experience in these areas, all of whom are eager to learn alongside us.
Working with the SEND project, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of our business and, importantly, share our insights with others. As members of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), which supports a wide range of breweries from small startups to regional players, we see the potential for collective learning and sustainability within our industry. We aim to compile reports and recommendations, benefiting not only ourselves but also other breweries. Together with Keele and SEND, we aim to promote the outstanding work being done in this field.