Turbine installation marks green future for Dewlay cheesemakers

Dewlay’s green credentials are set to soar with the recent installation of its wind turbine on September 8th, making the Lancashire cheesemaker the first cheese company in the UK to be powered by wind energy on this scale.

The 126 metre turbine, installed at the rear of the company’s 18 acre site, is set to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 2,992 tonnes per year, and sees the culmination of work that has been carried out alongside Wind Direct over the past two years.It is now undergoing a 40 day test period during which the blades will stop and start before it is fully commissioned next month.Operations Director, Nick Kenyon, explained: “We have been working on this project for quite some time so it is really exciting to see it finally come to fruition.

“When the turbine is fully operational it will meet all of our energy needs for the dairy. It will not only be cleaner and greener but will also allow us to stabilise energy supply, which is vital in protecting our business for the future.”

Dewlay’s commitment to its environmental responsibilities has a long standing history, with it sourcing milk from a team of local farms, and other initiatives including recycling of plastic and cardboard, using recyclable film on sliced cheese and more efficient use of water.

Nick continued: “The dairy industry as a whole accounts for a high proportion of the UK’s carbon emissions, so we are confident that our wind turbine will lead the way for the rest of the industry.

Dewlay’s initiative has been applauded by Dairy UK – the industry mouthpiece – as a welcoming project in the industry’s continuous efforts to meet ambitious green targets by 2015.

“Initiatives like this are a great example of ways in which the dairy sector can keep improving its environmental performance… the dairy industry is making milk greener,” commented Fergus McReynolds, environment manager for Dairy UK.

Frances Karki, Chief Operating Officer of Wind Direct, which is supplying, installing, financing and operating the turbine, also added: “This project emphasises Dewlay’s commitment to protecting the environment. It is a clear symbol of their green credentials and further strengthens the company’s competitive standing in the dairy industry.”

As part of its commitment to the local area, Dewlay will also be launching a number of initiatives to support other environmental projects in the region, as well as acting as an educational resource for local schools and groups in the Northwest.

“This is our biggest green project to date but we see it as only the first steps on our journey to be greener,” Nick concluded.