• Advanced membrane system enables distiller to reduce carbon emissions by more than 3,300 tonnes annually
PETERBOROUGH, UK, May 28, 2007 -- A reverse osmosis water reuse system from GE Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), has helped Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria, Scotland to earn the prestigious Annual Award for Excellence in Manufacturing Energy Efficiency from The Carbon Trust. The award recognizes the dramatic energy savings and reduction in carbon emissions that GE's reverse osmosis system will bring to one of Scotland's oldest independent distillers and was presented on May 17 during the Scottish Engineering Dinner in Glasgow.
GE's advanced high temperature membrane system will enable Loch Lomond Distillery to reduce its energy demand by 15,400 MWh, or about 18 percent of its annual usage. The savings will not only lower the plant's carbon emissions by more than 3,300 tonnes annually, but will also save approximately £300,000 in energy costs. The added benefit of reuse quality water will also enable the the distillery to reduce its consumption of potable water by more than 130,000 m3 per year.
The first of its kind for UK distillers, GE's reverse osmosis filtration system will enable Loch Lomond Distillery to recover clean, hot water from its distillation effluent that can be immediately reintroduced into the plant. The recovered hot water, which will typically have a temperature of about 80°C, can be used in the process or as pre-heated water for the steam boiler plant.
According to The Carbon Trust, about 40 percent of the UK's energy demand is attributed to process heating. Using advanced technologies to reclaim waste heat not only increases a manufacturer's energy efficiency and reduces operating costs, but also helps to fight climate change by lowering carbon emissions to the environment. The water reuse system will reduce potable water demand at Loch Lomond Distillery by about 130,000 m3 per year, which results in a corresponding saving in energy and cost that would have been required to transport the water by pipeline from municipal water sources.
GE worked extensively with Loch Lomond Distillery to help the company reduce its overall carbon footprint with an ecomagination-certified reverse osmosis system. Through its ecomagination initiative, GE is investing in innovative technologies that help customers meet operational and environmental challenges while contributing to increased productivity and profitability.
GE Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company, is solving some of the world's most pressing water challenges by providing industrial, agricultural and potable water, while lessening our dependence on fresh water sources. Technologies to accomplish this include desalination, advanced membrane, separation solutions, and water reuse and wastewater management and process technologies. GE delivers value to customers by improving performance and product quality, reducing operating costs and extending equipment life.
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