Pale Blue Dot Energy has developed GreenStills, a patent pending technology to significantly reduce energy usage in distillation through the integration of heat recovery technologies, thermal storage, and renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal. GreenStills offers distilleries potential savings of up to 70% in primary energy needs as well as improved energy security and reduced carbon emissions through the use of renewable energy. GreenStills is applicable beyond distilling and provides a more sustainable alternative to traditional steam-based distillation systems.

1. Industrial Decarbonisation:
The Integration of Renewable Heat in
the Distillation Process
Dave Pearson, STAR Renewable Energy, co Author Tim Dumenil – Creative Spirit – Pale Blue Dot Energy Ltd
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited

2. www.pale-blu.com
Scotch whisky is energy intensive
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited
Distilling is energy intensive: 15% Elec :
85% Heat (Oil / Gas)
Scotch whisky average energy use
(including grain) = 6.6 kWh/lal versus
theoretical minimum of 1.2 kWh/lal. 80%
opportunity.
Distilling Heat split roughly:
25% System
8% Mashing
67% Distilling
>90% of Distilling Heat is emitted as waste
heat

3. www.pale-blu.com
Context: Trilemma & Transition
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited
Trilemma & Transition (80% 2050 Target; Heat = biggest challenge)
• 15% Elec : 85% Fuel. 90% Fuel for Distillation Steam. Fuel nearly all Oil & Gas
• Need to create step change in energy efficiency of pot distillation
• Need to make it easier to integrate renewable energy options with process heat demand
Pot Still Heating Evolution
• Open fires through to late 1960’s. Step change via Oil & Gas fired steam boilers producing low pressure
steam for internal steam coils / pans
• Majority of stills have seen no change over the last 50 years
Food Grade Oil versus Steam
• A number of sectors have successfully used food grade mineral oil instead of steam
• Mineral oil heating systems can be 20-30% more efficient when transferring the same amount of heat
versus a traditional steam heating system
Heat Recovery & Thermal Stores
• The heat input for distillation nearly all becomes waste heat in condenser cooling water
• Preheating of Wash and LW&F to 40-60oC using outgoing coproducts or condenser water
• Very few distilleries with recovered heat stores
• For GreenStills, Mineral Oil, Heat Pumps and Recovered Heat thermal stores all come together to
significantly reduce overall primary energy input

4. www.pale-blu.com
Context: Trilemma & Transition
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited
• GreenStills enables a move away from steam and the integration of renewable energy to provide heat for
distilling
• Thus enables a move away from fuel oil and natural gas
• Significant, potentially entire, reduction of CO2 emissions
Other key elements are;
• Significant energy reduction
• Integration of heat recovery and heat pump technology
• Potential for the use of hydrogen and fuel cells
GreenStills is a “game changer” for global distillation.
• Whether for new build or retrofit GreenStills offers an attractive ROI and minimal production impact.
Working on several current projects for various distilleries/distillers

5. www.pale-blu.com
A patent pending innovation that
combines best available technology
Enables variable renewables input
All elements adaptable to suit
specific sites
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited
Thermal
Store
150-
500°C
Dynamic thin film
evaporation driven
by food grade
mineral oil (thermal
fluid)
External
heat
exchanger
Recovered
Heat
Thermal
Store
Renewable
energy
sources
Heat
Recovery
post
Condensers
High
Temp
Heat
Pump
Onshore wind
Offshore wind
Wave or tidal
Heat pumps
Geothermal
Biogas / Biomethane
Hydrogen
Solar, etc.
Coproduct
Heat
Recovery
GreenStills: Key Elements

6. www.pale-blu.com
Context: Trilemma & Transition
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited
1. Pale Blue Dot Energy has developed GreenStills, a patent pending technology to reduce energy use in
distillation.
2. GreenStills reduces process heat demand by more than a third. The full GreenStills solution involves the
integration of proven industrial heat recovery technology and thermal storage can reduce total primary heat
energy demand by up to 70%.
3. The GreenStills technology makes it much easier for the remaining 30% (sector average 2kWh/lal) to be fully
renewable and future proof in respect of primary sources of energy.
4. GreenStills is a “game changer” for global distillation. Whether for new build or retrofit GreenStills offers an
attractive ROI and minimal production impact.
5. GreenStills enables an alternative to steam and effective integration and storage of a range of renewable
energy for heat thus creating a triple benefit of:
• Reduced energy usage/cost, [For Scotch 86% * 85% of 4,208 GWh. Gas @ 2p/kWh @70% reduction = £50m
pa]
• Improved security of energy supply, and
• Carbon reduction through energy minimisation and the use of renewables. [For Scotch = 650kTpa of CO2]
6. GreenStills Technology is applicable beyond the distilling sector.

7. www.pale-blu.com
Energy Innovation: Brewery & Thermal Fluid
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited

8. www.pale-blu.com
Energy Innovation: Uist
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited

9. www.pale-blu.com
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited
tim.dumenil@pale-blu.com
dpearson@neatpumps.com

10. www.pale-blu.com
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Limited
Pale Blue Dot is a dynamic organisation dedicated to acting on climate change. A
diverse team of energy professionals, committed to creating and building energy
transition projects and providing focussed advisory services to the private and public
sector.
Pale Blue Dot Energy

11. www.pale-blu.com
Allen Associates – Process Design Engineers for Distillation
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited
Allen Associates are global leaders in brewing and distillation process engineering design.
• The largest team of Chemical and Process Design Engineers serving the spirits industry in Scotland.
• Core expertise in:
Chemical and Process Engineering Design
Process safety compliance (DSEAR, HAZOPs, LOPA, SIL etc.)
Distillery yield, water and energy optimisation
Project Engineering & Management
Distillery design & supply
• Worked at over 30 filling, disgorging, blending and bottling plants
• Worked at over 100 distilleries
• Completed over 1000 distilled spirits projects at home and abroad

12. www.pale-blu.com
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Limited
STAR Renewable Energy
ASHP: Up to 60°C
hot water flow

13. www.pale-blu.com
Star HP Scale - Drammen 13MW at 90oC
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited

14. www.pale-blu.com
“Climate change is no
longer some far-off
problem; it is happening
here, it is happening now.”
Barack Obama 31/8/15
17/05/2019
Pale Blue Dot Energy Limited