The Biomass Power Plant that Runs on Single Malt Whiskey

Helius Energy has officially opened its new biomass power plant in Rothes, Scotland. The biomass plant will create energy using by-products from the local distillery that produces the world famous single malt Glenrothes whiskey.

In a formal ceremony the Helius CoRDe Ltd biomass plant, capable of supplying 9,000 homes with clean power, was opened by HRH The Duke of Rothesay.

The 8.23MW combined heat and power plant was constructed by a consortium of energy and distillery companies, including Rabo Project Equity BV, and the Combination of Rothes Distillers Limited (CoRD). The project cost £60.5 million and will now replace the existing, carbon intensive CoRD plant that currently process all of the waste biomass produced during the distilling process.

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The biomass power plant will produce electricity, heat, and a protein supplement known as Pot Ale Syrup, that can be used as animal feed, all whilst saving around 46,000 tonnes of carbon a year, compared to if a regular coal plant had been used to power the waste processing.

Adrian Bowles , the chief executive officer of Helius Energy, said that, “this is renewable energy in action using innovative technology to provide enough power for 9,000 homes, and produce animal feed using by-products from local whisky distilleries. Projects like these will increasingly form part of the UK energy mix.”

By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com