Diageo switches on solar panels in Scotland this Earth Day

We’ll be switching on one of the largest private solar panel arrays in Scotland this Earth Day (22nd April). The solar farm will provide renewable energy for our packaging site at Diageo Leven, which produces more than 40 million cases of premium spirits each year, including Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s and Tanqueray.

The solar farm at Diageo Leven in Fife covers an area of eight football pitches which holds 8,000 panels. The farm will generate up to 22% of the site’s annual electrical demand and up to 60% in the summer months. The farm will produce 4.1MW of electricity will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 830 tonnes a year. The project is going live alongside a rainwater harvesting development that will deliver up to 7 million litres of water a year that will be reused on the site.

Stuart Galbraith, Operations Director at Diageo Leven, said: “This is a very proud moment for the team at Diageo Leven who have worked to make this project a reality. Our people are passionate about protecting the environment and building a more sustainable future. It is fantastic to know that as we work to make some of the world’s greatest quality products, we are doing it with renewable energy produced by the Scottish daylight.”

The investment in the solar panel farm is part of our ESG action plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, with a commitment to reach net zero across our direct operations by the end of the decade. We also aim to harness 100% renewable energy everywhere the company operates and we’ve committed to partnering with suppliers to reduce indirect carbon emissions by 50%.

Delivery of the solar panel installation project has been supported by Emtec and E-ON.

Read more about our sustainability goals.

Watch the video below to find out more about the solar array: