Whisky-made biofuel could power cars

A Scottish biofuel company is working toward producing a fuel made from the bi-products of whisky production, capable of powering vehicles.

Celtic Renewables teamed up with Europe’s largest biotechnology pilot facility in Belgium, the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, earlier this year with the aim of scaling up production of its biofuel made from whisky-making bi-products, as reported by the Poughkeepsie Journal. 

Biobutanol is made from a combination of draff – the sugar-rich kernals of barley left, and pot ale, the yeasty liquid heated during distillation and has the potential to replace petrol and diesel.

Last month the company was given funding by the UK Government to, in the words of energy minister Michael Fallon, “use the by-products of Scotland’s finest export to power vehicles”, prompting thought of whisky fuelled vehicles, as reported by The Telegraph. 

Every year the Scotch whisky trade produces producing 1.6 billion litres of pot ale and 500,000 tons of draff, making it a rip resource for bio fuel production.

Celtic Renewables hope to use the Belgian facility to produce the world’s first industrial samples of vehicle fuel made from whisky production residues.

If successful, the project could see Scotland’s whisky industry help kickstart a new industry in fuel production, without the need for fossil fuels.