Super 'whisky' biofuel to power cars

Topping up at the petrol pump could take an intriguing twist thanks to a new super biofuel made from whisky by-products.

The innovative fuel process has been developed over the last two years by the Biofuel Research Centre. The Biofuel Research Centre team focused on the whisky industry as a ripe resource for developing biobutanol – the next generation of biofuel which gives 30% more output power than ethanol.

It uses the two main by-products of the whisky production process – ‘pot ale’, the liquid from the copper stills, and ‘draff’, the spent grains, as the basis for producing the butanol that can then be used as fuel. Unlike ethanol, the nature of the innovative bio-fuel means that ordinary cars could use the more powerful fuel instead of traditional petrol. The product can also be used to make other green renewable bio-chemicals, such as acetone.

Professor Martin Tangney, Director of the Biofuel Research Centre, led the ground-breaking research. He said: “The EU has declared that biofuels should account for 10% of total fuel sales by 2020. We’re committed to finding new, innovative renewable energy sources. This is a more environmentally sustainable option and potentially offers new revenue on the back of one Scotland’s biggest industries.”

A patent has been filed for the new biofuel, and is now planning on forming a spin out company to take the fuel to the marketplace.

The £260,000 research project was funded by Scottish Enterprise’s ‘Proof of Concept’ programme.