Scottish scientists develop whisky biofuel

One for the road: in a whole new meaning to the phrase whisky by products could be used to power planes and cars

Whisky, the spirit that powers the Scottish economy, is being used to develop a new biofuel which could be available at fuel pumps in a few years.

Using samples from the Glenkinchie Distillery in East Lothian, researchers at Edinburgh Napier University have developed a method of producing biofuel from two main by-products of the whisky distilling process – "pot ale", the liquid from the copper stills, and "draff", the spent grains.

They were provided with samples of whisky distilling by-products from Diageo’s Glenkinchie Distillery in East Lothian, which makes The Edinburgh Malt. The £260,000 research project was funded by Scottish Enterprise, the government-backed development body.

Both waste products are produced by the enormous whisky industry each year, and the scientists say there is real potential for the biofuel. It can be used in conventional cars without adapting their engines. The team also said it could be used to fuel planes and as the basis for chemicals such as acetone, an important solvent.

The new method developed by the team produces butanol, which gives 30% more power output than the traditional biofuel ethanol. It is based on a 100-year-old process that was originally developed to produce butanol and acetone by fermenting sugar. The team has adapted this to use whiskey by-products as a starting point and has filed for a patent to cover the new method. It plans to create a spin-out company to commercialise the invention.

Professor Martin Tangney, who directed the project said that using waste products was more environmentally sustainable than growing crops specifically to generate biofuel. He added that it could contribute significantly to targets set by the EU for biofuels to account for 10% of total fuel sales by 2020.

"What people need to do is stop thinking ‘either or’; people need to stop thinking like for like substitution for oil. That’s not going to happen. Different things will be needed in different countries. Electric cars will play some role in the market, taking cars off the road could be one of the most important things we ever do."

“This is a more environmentally sustainable option and potentially offers new revenue on the back of one of Scotland’s biggest industries. We’ve worked with some of the country’s leading whisky producers to develop the process.”

“While some energy companies are growing crops specifically to generate biofuel, we are investigating excess materials such as whisky by-products to develop them,” he said. “
The scientists at the university’s biofuel research centre have filed for a patent and intend to create a spin-out company to take the new fuel to market.

The university now plans to create a spin-out company to take the new fuel to market and leverage the commercial opportunity, in the bid to make it available at petrol pumps.

Dr Richard Dixon, of WWF Scotland, welcomed the project. "The production of some biofuels can cause massive environmental damage to forests and wildlife," he said. "So whisky powered-cars could help Scotland avoid having to use those forest-trashing biofuels."

Jim Mather, minister for enterprise, energy and tourism, said this innovative use of waste products demonstrated a new sustainable option for the biofuel industry, while also supporting the economic and environmental objectives of the Scottish government.

 “In these challenging economic times we need to play to our strengths and take advantage of the low carbon opportunities of the future,” he said. “ It’s exactly this type of innovation that will help sustain economic recovery and deliver future sustainable economic growth.”

Valere Tjolle

Get free sustainable tourism reports from Vision on Sustainable Tourism HERE

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suitewww.travelmole.com/stories/1143624.php