Spirit manufacturer J Wray & Nephew Limited invested US$1 million to build a renewable energy plant that reduces its reliance on the grid.

The company this month reconfigured its sugar factory at Appleton Estate to power an emission-free boiler.

“We purchased a new 2.8 megawatt turbo alternator which has the capacity to supply 2.5 megawatts of electricity. This electricity is used during peak operation to run the sugar factory, distillery and dunder treatment plant concurrently. As such, we do not receive any power for this operation from the public utility company,” stated the company in a mailed response to Jamaica Observer queries this month.

“The company applied to the National Environment and Protection Agency (NEPA) for the requisite licence to operate and regularise our power generation facility, and the permit was granted in October, 2015.”

The company expects to save approximately US$648,000 per annum from this project. The plant runs on bagasse, the fibrous material that remains from the sugar cane after the juice is extracted.

“The boiler’s exhaust is completely ash-free, and emits only water vapour into the atmosphere,” stated the company, adding that it cares in its own way about the environment.

Wray & Nephew is part of the Italian-based Campari group. Campari acquired Lascelles in December 2012 for some US$409 million from Trinidad-based majority shareholder, CL Financial, and local shareholders. Campari then merged 22 local companies into the long-standing Wray & Nephew Limited in order to strengthen the group’s route to market in Jamaica.

“J Wray & Nephew Limited is committed to preserving the environment and we’ve made significant investments in our plant and equipment to ensure our operations at the Appleton Estate are in line with this commitment,” stated the company.