Getting their start in 2021 in their container brewery in Rock, Cornwall, Bluntrock Brewery have forged their own path to bring US-style pale ales and IPAs to their local area. As demand took off, they needed a new premises to expand their operations. With the sustainability of their business front of mind they knew right from the build design stage that they wanted solar PV.

A new build presents an opportunity for businesses in any industry to take their sustainability practices to the next level. Bluntrock Brewery saw demand growing to the point where expansion became essential, and with it they saw the chance to embed renewable electricity from the get-go. They worked with our in-house team right from the initial design phase of this new build, ensuring that the solar PV system could be adapted to every change and nuance in the build plan. Now, they have solar PV across both of their newly completed rooftops at their brewing premises in Wadebridge, generating a combined 80,000 kWh of annual low-cost low-carbon electricity.

Bluntrock Brewery will see yearly energy bill savings of £17,000, savings that started from the moment the new build became operational. In the solar PV systems lifetime, they’ll be taking over £330,000 off their energy bill. For the brewing industry, these kinds of cost reductions are increasingly key; taxes, NIC contributions, tariffs, and the EPR fee are all stressors currently being placed on UK breweries. Onsite generation can provide much needed support by alleviating pressures from rising energy bills, reducing reliance on volatile energy prices and getting electricity for a more affordable fixed rate. Solar PV can take thousands off a brewery’s yearly energy bill, and with new builds it can be embedded directly into the design of the building.

But the benefits of solar go beyond just the energy cost savings. Over 80% of consumers are willing to spend as much 9.7% more on sustainable options, and 84% of UK consumers cited a poor environmental track record as the main cause of alienation from brands. The demand for sustainability is clear, and Bluntrock Brewery are now going to be saving a cumulative 657 tonnes of CO2e from their production process. With trust in ‘green logos’ wavering among consumers, carbon savings like this are a tangible sustainability initiative.

And for Bluntrock, their solar installation is supporting their business alongside their CO2 recovery system and onsite bore hole, creating a well-rounded sustainability approach. With solar, they’re setting up the future of their business to better withstand energy price volatility but are also meeting their customers where their needs are.  

Bluntrock Brewery now have a competitive advantage built right onto their rooftops and will see the impact of their new system right on their cost base. Their new build has set them up not only for continued business growth, but greater resilience.

Learn more about CleanEarth’s work with breweries, or about our range of other projects.

1. PwC 2024 Voice of Consumer Survey – PwC

2. Green Consumer Statistics – USwitch

3. British attitudes towards sustainability in 2024 – Key Insights – YouGov data