UNB Student Planning To Produce Gin with Geothermal Energy
FREDERICTON— Kallista Willson, a fourth-year biology major at UNB, is trying to produce the lowest amount of carbon admission possible while making gin.
Fredericton-based Hanwell Gin Company is a project Willson started with Thermtest, a thermal instruments company based in Fredericton. In August, Willson won Volta’s Pitch Competition, receiving a $500 Visa gift card.
“The business world is pretty new to me,” said Willson. “I don’t have a ton of background academically in it.”
She has been working with Thermtest since her first year at UNB. This summer she started a new position as a junior research scientist, where she looks into how to use Thermtest products for environmental processes.
The Hanwell Gin Company emerged as a side project of her work at Thermtest. When her leader at Thermtest heard about Volta’s Pitch Competition she recommended Willson pitch her idea.
“I had to do quite a bit of background research of what actually comprises a good pitch, like the different slides to include, how to cater your slide to be only three minutes,” said Willson.
The pitch was a three-minute summary of their business idea. Willson said that Volta emphasized they wanted a good pitch over a perfect business idea.
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“They wanted you to really sell your three minutes and use it wisely more so than make your market-end,” said Willson.
Willson hopes to start making and selling gin in the next few years. As she researches and develops the idea, she plans to keep Hanwell Gin under the Thermtest umbrella, using their testing equipment for thermal monitoring.
“The basic principle is that we are looking at making gin using geothermal energy,” said Willson. “So it’s energy that would be pulled from the ground basically with this pipe apparatus that you install in an area beside your building.”
This technology is traditionally used for heating water, a key aspect in distilling. Once installed it is very efficient, within two years eliminating energy costs.
Eventually, Willson wants to build a solar-powered greenhouse for the company. Having all ingredients for the gin grown on-site would lower transport emissions, a key part of reaching New Brunswick’s and Canada’s climate change goals.
“It’s a big part to try to cater our company to align with those so we can keep going with our current practices for the long haul, especially with the carbon tax and stuff like that,” said Willson.
Willson is looking at MBA programs with an environmental focus, thinking that environmental business will be a high-demand role in the next few years.
“Right now, businesses especially need to focus on more of a circular economy more than anything,” said Willson. “It’s going to be more harmful than it is positive to keep producing things the way we are.”
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Rachel Smith is an intern for Huddle. Send her story suggestions: [email protected].