Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers has signed a deal with Vayu Energy, in an agreement valued at €130,000 that will see the energy supplier provide the family-owned business with 100% renewable energy.
The deal means that Cashel Farmhouse, a member of Bord Bia’s Origin Green, will have direct access to wholesale electricity prices that are normally only available to larger energy users.
Louis Clifton Brown of Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers, commented, "As we continue to expand, we are very focused on reducing our impact on the environment across all aspects of our business.
"Our partnership with Vayu helps us reduce our environmental footprint even further by providing us with green electricity with a 100% renewable rating."
Energy specialist at Vayu, Ross Curran said, "As the emphasis on environmental sustainability grows, access to competitively priced renewable energy is becoming an increasingly important factor for Irish companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.
"This is particularly evident across the Irish food and agriculture sector. The good news is that, as a country, we have an abundant supply of renewable energy resources and only a fraction of these have been harnessed to date, so there is enormous potential for further development."
Established in 1984, Cashel Farmhouse was established in 1984, and now produces over 300 tonnes of cheese each year, with about 45% destined for the export market.
Other core elements of its environmental management strategy include minimising waste, recycling water, conserving natural resources and increasing energy efficiency.
In 2015, it installed 180 photovoltaic cells, which will allow the company to save up to 20% of it energy demand over the next 10 years. It also dedicates 20% of its farmland to biodiversity, allowing wildlife to flourish.
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
