TADCASTER brewery is being held up by brewing giant Heineken as making "real strides forward" in the firm's sustainability agenda.

The site, which famously brews John Smiths is now the UK's largest solar brewery following the installation of more than 4,000 solar panels onto its roof, and improving efficiency of biogas capture and energy generation.

The solar panels alone will produce enough energy over a year to power the equivalent of that used by 185 homes, and will completely power the bottling hall for up to three hours a day as well as feeding the rest of the plant.

Waste liquid from the brewery process is captured and treated in an on-site anaerobic digester that produces biogas and a useful agricultural nutrient from this waste. The gas is then burnt to produce electricity that helps to power up to five per cent of its annual energy needs.

David Forde, managing director Heineken UK, said: "Heineken was 150 years old in 2014. If we’re to be successful for the next 150 years we must become a more sustainable company.

"In 2014 business conditions were tough and we operated in a challenging economic environment. However, with a clear strategy and a strong team, we delivered a solid performance, despite this challenging background.

"We only need to take the example of our Tadcaster Brewery to see how major investments and micro activities are making a difference today.

"With 4,000 solar panels installed on its roof, onsite Anaerobic Digestion, Biogas capture and generation, their move to LED lighting and investment in energy saving voltage transformers, Tadcaster is making real strides forward."

Heineken's newly released Sustainability Report 2014, also showed the firm taking responsibility for the emissions associated with brewing and exporting Newcastle Brown Ale from the Tadcaster brewery into the US. These exported volumes reduced in 2014 and so emissions associated with this export also dropped.