Powered by Scottish spirit

• 12 years ago (2011-05-06)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 North America 998 Renewables 751

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Whisky is to be used to generate electricity in a new bioenergy venture involving some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries.

Contracts have been awarded for construction of a biomass combined heat and power plant at Rothes in Speyside. This is scheduled for completion in 2013, and will use the by-products of the whisky-making process for energy production.

The £50 million Rothes project, a joint venture between Helius Energy and the Combination of Rothes Distillers (CoRD) will burn a mixture of spent grains and woodchips, to generate 7.2 MWe for public use. The plant will be constructed by Aalborg Energie Technick of Denmark.

Of Scotland’s 100 whisky distilleries, 50 are based in Speyside. Waste products from 16 of the Speyside distilleries, including Glenlivet, Chivas Regal, Macallan and Famous Grouse, will be used at the site.

Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, has pledged that 100 per cent of Scotland’s electricity will be generated through renewable sources by 2020.