This week on Ours to Protect we’re taking a look at a local brewing company that has made sustainability a priority from the start.

Did you know?… 

The Tom Crean Brewery in Kenmare was the first brewery in Ireland to put solar PV panels on their roof; they use an electric cargo quad bike to do deliveries and have developed a system to convert the spent grain used for brewing into silage. 

 

The Tom Crean Brewery was set up four years ago by Aileen Crean O’Brien, granddaughter of the renowned Antarctic explorer, and her partner Bill Sheppard.

 

What is being done?… 

 

Spent grain is a waste product from the brewing process. Aileen and Bill have been looking at ways that grain could be re-used. They’ve also set up a bio digester in their garden.

 

CO2 is a by-product of the brewing process. Bill and Aileen are working on a project to capture that carbon and transport it to organic farmers to help grow veg.

 

If you’re interested in any of the projects you’ve just heard about contact the Tom Crean Brewery in Kenmare, Aileen and Bill are very willing to share their research! 

 

Useful links…. 

https://www.tomcreanbrewerykenmare.ie/sustainability

https://www.tomcreanbrewerykenmare.ie/blog-3