Deal to turn whisky 'leftovers' into biofuel for cars By Ken Macdonald

BBC Scotland Science Correspondent Published duration 24 September 2012

media caption By-products, like draff, from the Tullibardine distillery are to be turned into biofuel

A deal has been signed to turn by-products from a Scottish distillery into fuel for cars.

In what is claimed to be a world first, the Tullibardine distillery in Perthshire has linked up with a spin-out company from Napier University in Edinburgh.

They plan to use bacteria to feed on the "leftovers" from the whisky making process.

This will produce butanol which can be used to fuel vehicles.

More than 90% of the stuff that comes out of a whisky distillery is not whisky. It is leftovers like draff and pot ales - both produced in the early stages of the process.

They are high in sugar and are currently used for things like fertiliser and cattle feed.

Napier University's Biofuel Research Centre (BfRC) has already shown that the right bacteria can feed on those by-products to produce butanol - a direct replacement for vehicle fuel.

Now the spin-out company, Celtic Renewables, and independent malt whisky producer Tullibardine have signed a memorandum of understanding.

Together they will apply the process to thousands of tonnes of the distillery's leftovers.

Professor Martin Tangney, founder of Celtic Renewables, said: "Our partnership with Tullibardine is an important step in the development of a business which combines two iconic Scottish industries - whisky and renewables.

"This project demonstrates that innovative use of existing technologies can utilise resources on our doorstep to benefit both the environment and the economy."

image caption The distillery spends £250,000 disposing of its by-products every year

Douglas Ross, managing director of Tullibardine, which spends £250,000 disposing of its by-products every year, said: "We are delighted to be partnering Celtic Renewables in this innovative venture, the obvious benefits of which are environmental.

"It takes a cost to us and turns it into something that has social as well as commercial value."

The project is being supported by a grant from the Scottish government's Zero Waste Scotland initiative.