Did you know that breweries have traditionally relied on CO2 as the essential gas for all brewing processes? That’s right; from tank purging and bottling to inerting, carbon dioxide has historically been a brewery’s gas of choice. However, this may not be the case for much longer! Enter nitrogen, an inert gas that has been fully embraced by the food and beverage industry as an alternative to CO2. There are three key reasons that illustrate why breweries should consider the switch from CO2 to N2: practicality, sustainability, and economy.
Before we dive in, let’s make one distinction: on-site nitrogen generation for your brewery isn’t about completely removing CO2 from your operation! Instead, it’s about leveraging the efficiency and cost advantages of nitrogen compared to CO2, as well as reducing your greenhouse gas emissions.
No matter the shape or size of the brewery, using nitrogen gas generated on-site during the brewing process is in industry’s best interest. With six standard packages, a nitrogen generator is available to cover around 80% of all breweries – from those producing a few thousand barrels a year to several hundred thousand barrels a year. A brewery can also oversize its nitrogen generator to accommodate for growth while simultaneously maintaining efficiency. There is even the option to add a second generator if the brewery’s business expands substantially!
By switching to on-site nitrogen generation, brewers can significantly improve production, greatly reduce their carbon footprint, and save a substantial amount of money. If you’d like to learn more about what this would look like in your brewery, visit us here!