Partnership with UHI and Windswept Brewing brings innovation to Moray

Earlier in 2022 Windswept Brewing Co embarked on an innovative Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project aimed at adopting sustainable energy and waste management technologies for the microbrewery sector.

This project, which is run in partnership with UHI (the University of the Highlands and Islands) through their partners – UHI Moray, Environmental Research Institute (ERI), Institute for Northern Studies (INS) - and the North of Scotland KTP Centre, aims to provide the company with the knowledge and expertise to identify, select and deploy sustainable energy and waste management innovation, reducing energy usage and waste at the brewery, ultimately improving Windswept’s environmental impact and economic sustainability.

Taking the lead on the project is KTP Associate Chizaram Chinguzorom who relocated to Moray in June 2022 to manage the two-year project. During this time Chizaram will split his time between the brewery in Lossiemouth and UHI Moray in Elgin.

Commenting on the project Chizaram said:

“I am delighted to lead the delivery of this exciting project.  It is propelled by the ambitious plans of Windswept Brewing to adopt more sustainable approaches in the brewing of high-quality beer through energy and resource-efficient operations, adoption of innovative technologies and economic circularity. 

It is my hope that through the collaborative partnership with UHI Moray, ERI, INS, and North of Scotland KTP, Windswept will become a sustainable technology-use leader in the microbrewery sector using energy and resources efficiently and responsibly and leaving minimum carbon footprint in the environment. Also, I expect that the learnings from this project will be beneficial not only to the academic partners involved but also to other small breweries, ultimately helping to realise a decarbonised and energy-efficient microbrewery sector in Scotland.”

A focus on sustainability is not a new endeavour for Windswept Brewing as Director Nigel Tiddy explains:

“Sustainability has been a core value of the company since the brewery’s inception ten years ago. We want to ensure that we are able to brew the best beer we can with as little environmental impact as possible. This commitment to sustainability has led to us working on some really exciting projects, such as the Moray LEADER funded ‘Field to Firkin’ project in 2019/2020, which saw us investigate ways to create a short, local supply chain between Moray based farmers and brewers. We made great inroads and brewed an Elderflower Pale Ale called Pioneer with grain from local Pitgaveny Estate Farm.”

“Sustainability is something we think our customers really care about too and we hope to engage them in this project as our sustainability journey unfolds.  We also hope that the project helps us to build relationships with other breweries who might be able to benefit from our learnings.”

The collaborative nature of this project offers the chance to transfer knowledge and expertise between academics at UHI, which include experts in the field of sustainable technology and waste management, and the craft brewing expertise of Windswept.

Sam Scott, Deputy Head of Academic Partnerships at UHI Moray, added:

“Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) aim to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology, and skills within the UK knowledge base.  UHI Moray are excited to be leading on this dynamic three-way partnership between Windswept, UHI and Chizaram as the Associate.  The project is co-funded by UKRI through Innovate UK and the Scottish Funding Council with a clear focus to increase sustainability; operationally and economically through the introduction of technologies to reduce energy usage and wastewater volume.  We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Windswept on their sustainability journey and look forward to future collaborative opportunities.”