From Green Right Now Reports
If the impending arrival of summer has you thinking about drinks featuring paper umbrellas and a splash or two of rum, you may be able to support environmental responsibility as you kick back and relax: Rum manufacturer Bacardi is installing the largest wind turbine operation in Puerto Rico to help power the company’s top global distillery near San Juan.
Image: Bacardi
The two wind turbine units are industrial scale at 250kW each and are owned by Cataño-based Aspenall Energies, which will sell the electricity to Bacardi. With their blades, the turbines are 137 feet high and have a rotor diameter of 75 feet.
The turbines are expected to generate approximately 1,000,000 kWh of electricity per year, accounting for three to seven percent of the power used by Bacardi. That’s roughly the consumption of tourism-related activities at its Casa Bacardi Visitor Center (and equivalent to the consumption of about 100 average households) with an expected carbon offset of more than 900 tons of CO2 per year. All of the power generated by the turbines will be consumed by the Bacardi facility.
“Puerto Rico relies on fossil fuels for virtually all its energy, so we hope other companies will follow this great leadership by Bacardi to use wind energy and other renewable energy sources,” said Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuño.
“This sort of forward-thinking is exactly what we must encourage in Puerto Rico. This is precisely why we are introducing energy reform measures that will establish a better policy and regulatory framework that will enable more investment in renewable energy projects. The government will serve as a partner through incentives and other support that will result in all individuals and businesses having more opportunities to become part of the energy solution.”
Other environmental initiatives at the Bacardi plant:
- Carbon dioxide, produced as an intermediate product during the fermentation process, is recovered and sold to third parties, mostly for carbonated beverages. From June 2008 through February 2009, Bacardi recovered and sold 10,378,251 lbs (5,189 tons) of CO2.
- Bacardi treats wastewater that is then used in cooling towers during the production process, saving 22,000 gallons of water every day.
- The company recycles old aging barrels by dismantling and chopping them and giving the chips to employees as mulch.
- Bacardi cuts used promotional banners and sews them into reusable shopping bags for employees.