Simon Howie
Who are we?
Simon Howie is a Scottish butcher and UK household meat brand, producing high-quality food products such as bacon, sausages, and the UK’s best-selling haggis. Based in Dunning, Perthshire, we employ over 140 staff.
What are we doing?
We’ve invested £3.7 million into a renewable energy system, including a 2.3MW wind turbine and a 2.1MW solar array (3,800 panels). The system is set to generate over 120% of our energy needs, meaning our production operations can be powered entirely by Scottish wind and sun.
Why are we doing it?
The climate emergency demands immediate action, and we are committed to becoming a more sustainable business. By reducing our carbon emissions by over 500 tonnes annually, we’re not only protecting the planet but doing what we can to protect our customers from energy-related price hikes.
How are we doing it?
To support the circular economy we sourced a refurbished wind turbine and then worked with experts in their fields to navigate the narrow rural roads of Perthshire transporting it to site. Alongside the wind turbine and solar panels, we’ve integrated battery storage (2 x 450kWh units) to maximise energy use during night shifts and less favourable energy generating weather conditions. Any surplus energy is sold back to the National Grid.
What has been the impact?
The system is forecasted to reduce our carbon footprint during peak production months, October to February, by over 200 tonnes and well over 500 tonnes annually. It has also enabled us to expand our workforce by over 20 staff compared to last year.
Who helped us?
While the project was primarily self funded, Scottish Enterprise provided a £500,000 grant towards the solar panel installation and invaluable advice and support throughout the project.