Celtic Renewables Ltd. is the first company to produce biofuel from the by-products of the scotch whisky industry.

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br>Edinburgh start-up to make whisky biofuel
/ref> It has been estimated that annually the whisky industry produces 1.6 billion litres of pot ale and 500,000 tonnes of draff which has historically been used for animal feed. Celtic Renewables has utilised these resources and adapted the traditional Weizmann Fermentation process (also known as

ABE fermentation Abe or ABE may refer to: People and fictional characters * Shinzo Abe (1954–2022), former Prime Minister of Japan * Abe (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or nickname * Abe (surname), a list of people an ...

) to produce Biobutanol. Several supply partnerships have been established with local distilleries along with a relationship with Europe’s biotech flagship Bio Base Europe where it has piloted its biofuel production process with a £1 million grant from the

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(DECC). The company also carries the support of the

Scotch Whisky Association The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is a trade organisation that represents the Scotch whisky industry. The Scotch whisky industry is an important part of the Scottish economy, and particularly the Scottish export market. Structure The main o ...

and the Scottish Government, where this process is well aligned to both national biofuel and carbon reduction targets. The company was granted planning permission for its first scale biorefinery at Caledon Green, in Grangemouth, Scotland in 2020 and completed building in November 2021, there are now plans for a second in Speyside.

Inception

Celtic Renewables was created by Professor Martin Tangney OBE, who is also the Director of the Biofuel Research Centre at

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. It was launched on 25 January 2012, at the University’s Sighthill Campus by

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, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism and Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of

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. Dr. Doug Ward, founder of

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, was appointed as its inaugural Chairman. Mark Simmers, fellow from The Saltire Foundation, is CEO.Saltire Fellow Named CEO of Celtic Renewables
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Celtic Renewables Ltd Renewable energy companies of Scotland Alcohol fuel producers Renewable fuels British companies established in 2012 Renewable resource companies established in 2012 2012 establishments in Scotland