Cheers! Firm to build plant for making biofuel from whisky waste

‘First of its kind in the world’

WHISKY residue is to be used to produce a petrol and diesel substitute.

Celtic Renewables has won planning permission to build a plant at Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, which will make around 110,000 gallons of the biofuel each year.

The two-acre site – working closely with Tullibardine Distillery in Perthshire – will produce biobutanol using residue left over from the whisky-making process.

Construction of the plant – where 25 jobs will be created – is due to begin early next year.

The fuel could ‘revolutionise sustainable transport’, according to the Celtic Renewables.

Company founder and president Professor Martin Tangney said: ‘This is a very exciting time for biotechnology in Scotland.

‘Our plant, which will use entirely sustainable raw materials to make high-value, lowcarbon products, will be the first of its kind in the world.

‘It will shine a global spotlight on innovation in Scotland in the low carbon economy.’

Falkirk Council leader Cecil Meiklejohn said: ‘The new Celtic Renewables Grangemouth commercial demonstrator plant is great news for the local economy.’

The biofuel firm has established a new publicly quoted company – Celtic Renewables Grangemouth PLC – to build the Grangemouth plant and has launched a funding campaign to raise £5.25million.