There’s another CO₂ shortage on the horizon. Ensus, one of the UK’s biggest bioethanol producers and a major supplier of food-grade CO₂, has warned it may shut down soon.

This all comes off the back of the new UK–US trade deal, which removed tariffs on ethanol imports. Cheaper US ethanol is now undercutting UK producers like Ensus and Vivergo, putting them under huge pressure. Here’s the story in The Grocer.

It’s not just one article, either. There have been multiple warnings. The Grocer reported that brewers are already calling it a “CO₂ gas crisis,” with rising costs and major concerns about availability. You can read that one here.

The Financial Times also covered the issue, pointing out that UK plants are being priced out by US imports. These plants supply a massive portion of the UK’s CO₂, so if they go offline, we’ll feel it. Here’s the FT coverage.

On top of that, there’s another layer of pressure. The UK is working to link its Emissions Trading System with the EU’s. That’s already driven up the price of carbon, and while it doesn’t directly set the price of CO₂ cylinders, it does show that carbon is becoming a lot more valuable. That FT article is worth a read too.

So in short, if you rely on food-grade CO₂, things could get tricky. Supply is looking shakier, prices are creeping up, and it’s getting harder to plan ahead.

Our CO₂ Capture System Can Help

Instead of relying on deliveries, you can capture the CO₂ your brewery already produces. Store it. Reuse it. Cut the risk and save money.

We offer a full CO₂ Capture service through Ninkasi. We handle everything—from first chat to final install. It’s about helping you cut your carbon footprint, lower your costs, and stay in control no matter what’s happening in the wider market.

The system we supply is compact (just 1m² footprint), quiet, fully automatic, and produces 99.99% pure food-grade CO₂. There’s no oil or chemical contact, and it runs cleanly and simply in the background.

What You Get with Ninkasi

We don’t just drop off the kit. We handle everything so you don’t have to.

• Free site consultation
• Full installation with our expert team managing the process
• Ongoing servicing and maintenance
• Support with compliance and certification

We’ll make sure it fits your site, runs smoothly, and keeps running.

Let’s Get Ahead of This

CO₂ capture used to be about sustainability. Now it’s also about protecting your margins, avoiding downtime, and staying ahead of supply chain issues. It just makes sense.

If you want to know whether CO₂ Capture is a good fit for your brewery, drop us a line. We’ll book in a free consultation and walk you through it.