Scottish Renewables Firm Set to Turn Whisky Waste into Biofuel

For most people, mention of ‘Scotland’ generally conjures up thoughts of haggis, kilts, bagpipes, lochs, castles and of course, whisky. While the first five don’t necessarily hold the key to an eco-friendly future, the latter could give a whole new meaning to Scotland’s most famous export.

Last month an Edinburgh based spin-out firm won an £11 million grant to start construction on what will be the world’s first whisky biofuel plant. The funding is part of an advanced biofuels demonstration competition supported by the Department for Transport. Celtic Renewables was one of three companies to share the prize pool, winning over judges with its plans to build a hub featuring advanced technology capable of turning whisky by-products into innovative green fuel.

University swaps whisky benders for biofuel

The company is a spin out firm of Napier University’s Biofuel Research Centre. Founders assert that the funding will be used to construct a fully functional facility capable of producing a minimum of one million litres of biofuel every year. The plant is set to be up and running by 2018 which means tipples could be turned into fuel in a matter of years!

Professor Martin Tangney, founder and president at Celtic Renewables explains that by turning whisky leftovers into an eco-friendly fuel source, Scotland will be pioneering technology “that contributes to the low-carbon future we all want.”

Whisky with an eco-friendly and profitable aftertaste

Not only will the venture boost the UK’s environmental credentials but it will also serve as a major national profit source. “We are committed to developing a new industry in the UK that will be worth more than £100 million a year and it starts here, adds Tangney.”

“We have already attracted investment and partners in the private sector and this funding will allow us to scale up to industrial production.”

Andrew Jones, UK transport minister was on-hand to award the grant, saying “Biofuels have an important role to play in keeping Britain moving forward in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way.”

“This £25m is not only a vital investment in technology that will help secure a greener future but will also help support the creation of thousands of jobs.”

The UK is a pioneer when it comes to biofuel advancements, with innovative firms such as Celtic Renewables leading the way. ‘The Future of Biofuels: Corn,Rapeseed and Chopsticks’ explores Britain’s biofuel industry in further detail, focussing on FCL Biofuels and its own-brand product called PrioBio.