• Hepworth Brewery is the first UK brewery to install a high-temperature heat pump, slashing carbon emissions by up to 90%.
  • Developed by Futraheat, the system produces steam at 130°C, significantly reducing fuel use and cutting energy costs by 40%.
  • This initiative is part of Hepworth’s broader sustainability efforts, including solar panels and waste conversion systems for eco-friendliness.

Hepworth Brewery is delivering pints without the carbon, as it slashes its emissions by up to 90%

A British brewery has become the first in the UK to install a groundbreaking high-temperature heat pump, slashing its carbon emissions by up to 90%. Hepworth Brewery, based in Sussex, is using a new heat pump developed by Futraheat, a start-up from Surbiton. This innovative technology produces steam at 130°C, making it ideal for the brewing process. It’s the first time a heat pump of this kind has been used in the UK.

Traditional heat pumps heat water to about 80°C. However, Futraheat’s system goes much higher, helping Hepworth significantly cut both its fuel use and emissions. By recycling waste steam, the brewery reduces its reliance on oil boilers and switches to an electrically powered system. As a result, the brewery expects to lower energy costs by 40%.

The key to this breakthrough is Futraheat’s patented TurboClaw compressor, which boosts temperatures by up to 60°C. Hepworth hopes to roll out the technology across its entire brewing process, further reducing its environmental impact.

This heat pump is part of Hepworth Brewery’s wider sustainability efforts

The brewery has also installed solar panels, a reed bed, and a system that converts waste into biomethane.

Futraheat believes this technology can revolutionise many industries that rely on high temperatures, from food production to pharmaceuticals. With heat making up 70% of industrial energy demand in the UK, the potential impact could be significant.

Futraheat is already working with other industries to adopt the system and aims to push the temperature even higher with future models.