9 White Deer Brewery cuts their energy costs and reduces carbon emissions
9 White Deer Brewery won in the Small Business category at the SEAI Energy Awards 2025. The microbrewery is dedicated to brewing and packaging high-quality beers for the Irish market.
About 9 White Deer Brewery
9 White Deer Brewery, located in the Gaeltacht region, Baile Bhúirne, Mhúscra, Co. Cork, produces 300,000 litres of beer annually for the Irish market. With a small team and a lean operating model, the brewery has implemented a strategic decarbonisation plan that significantly reduces energy use, emissions, and operating costs, all while maintaining product quality and supporting the local community.
Pathway to decarbonisation
Rising energy costs and inflation threatened the brewery’s ability to maintain competitive pricing. As a rural SME, the team needed a phased, cost‑effective approach to reduce fossil fuel reliance, improve efficiency, and build long‑term resilience.
Energy upgrades completed
- Solar PV Installation: A 30 kWp rooftop array now supplies ~36% of annual electricity, generating 24,667 kWh/year and delivering a 42% reduction in grid electricity use.
- Wholesale electricity and smart metering: Switching to index‑linked wholesale pricing cut electricity costs by 40%.
- On‑site nitrogen generator produces 99.999% pure nitrogen, reducing CO₂ dependency and supporting future CO₂ recovery.
- Thermal and chilling upgrades: A new 3,000L insulated hot liquor tank, upgraded heat exchanger, and optimised chilled water tank will increase solar utilisation to 100% and reduce gas and water use.
The impact
- 42% renewable electricity substitution, rising to 57% with full solar utilisation
- 6.39 tonnes CO₂e avoided annually
- 40% reduction in electricity costs
- Improved thermal efficiency, reduced water use, and lower gas consumption
Beyond energy savings, the project has increased staff engagement, strengthened their operational resilience, and reinforced their brand’s commitment to sustainability. Their approach has created a more robust, future-ready brewery without compromising product quality or value. This project showcases how rural Irish SMEs can lead by example, not through greenwashing, but through pure dedication to people, process, and planet.
Next steps for 9 White Deer Brewery
9 White Deer plans to integrate AI‑driven energy forecasting, expand thermal storage, and pursue advanced CO₂ recovery. They aim to participate in dynamic pricing models similar to Octopus Energy in the UK, enabling smarter load shifting and deeper decarbonisation.
SEAI Energy Awards
9 White Deer Brewery won in the Small Business category at the SEAI Energy Awards 2025. Ireland’s most inspiring sustainable energy initiatives will once again take centre stage as the SEAI Energy Awards 2026 opens for applications. SEAI takes this opportunity every year to celebrate excellence, innovation and ambition across the country’s clean energy community.
This year we have 11 categories that are suited to multiple sectors and company sizes. Open to organisations across the island of Ireland, the awards reflect the wide range of sectors and project types contributing to national energy and climate goals.