Ramsbury Brewery responds to Government energy funding cuts

The Government announced earlier this month its plans to scale back its support for businesses struggling with high energy costs.

On January 9, the Government introduced a new Energy Bills Discount Scheme to cover the period from April 2023 to April 2024.

The current Energy Bill Relief Scheme announced in September – which caps the unit cost of gas and electricity for all businesses – will end in March 2023.

The new scheme will provide a discount on wholesale prices rather than costs being capped as under the current one.

The Government warned the current level of support it is providing is too expensive.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: "Wholesale energy prices are falling and have now gone back to levels just before Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"But to provide reassurance against the risk of prices rising again, we are launching the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme, giving businesses the certainty they need to plan ahead."

But firms will only benefit from the scheme when energy bills are high and some fear a continued struggle with soaring costs.

Nikolas Fordham, general manager for Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Company, spoke to Newburytoday about what the change means for the brewery's future.

"From a business perspective, it's nice to have any support," he said. "We have used it and it's enabled us to think about green technology, environmentally sound technology and reducing our energy requirements.

"It was designed as a type of settlement to adjust to the new business landscape.

"So, it's been really good for us.

"It's a significant contribution that the Government is making, I think they were stating somewhere like £5.5bn before the cap on it. Where does the rest of the money come from?"

"I'm tired of hearing lots of doom and gloom statements. Business will always find a way to make money, and it's our responsibility to take some accountability on what we do.

"Of course, Government policy is massive to this and I want stability in Government policy, especially for taxation, but also labour markets and schools.

"So, there's got to be a kind of levelling. But for me, to have any support is great.

"I'd like to see more of it. But I also have to be pragmatic that there's got to be a responsibility and accountability of business owners and managers, that they should take these opportunities to look at the future of their business and how they can reduce their energy consumption."

What energy saving measures is the brewery taking?

"We just have electricity, we don't have gas on site," he explained.

"So, we use our biomass for producing steam.

"We've looked at the maintenance reliability of that and the efficiency of our steam systems.

"The second thing we've done is add another 100 solar panel cells, which will generate somewhere around 110 kilowatt potential.

"I'm looking at the potential for in-line generation of steam through small turbines, which I can put on the edge of the steam boiler. We're also looking at how we look at sustainable generation on site.

"But it would be great for me to understand what the Government is going to do to support and also encourage businesses to look at self-generation on site."

Could the change affect other breweries more?

"I think it can, and it will," he added. "Because if you look at the facilities we've got, we're part of the Ramsbury Estate, which is grounded in sustainability. Therefore, we've got a sustainable source of wood for our biomass boiler.

"We've also got the potential of land for our generation policies on site, and we've also got the use of reedbeds, which means our waste removal is in a much better position.

"So, I think we're in a reasonably good position to move forward and take advantage of any Government support that will help us and support a generation of sustainable manners."

The brewery is also planning an outreach scheme with schools to educate younger people about farming and sustainable industry.