by Ilona Amos (The Scotsman) PLANS have been unveiled that will see mainland Britain’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm set up in Scottish waters later this summer. The new facility will be run as a demonstration project that will help shape
Scotland
Back TO HOMEWorld's First Biofuel from Whisky Residues Aim for Lead in £100m Market
(The Engineer) A Scottish company has revived a defunct fermentation technology to create biofuel from the residues of whisky production. Edinburgh-based Celtic Renewables said it now plans to build a production facility in central Scotland after manufacturing the world’s first
February 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Opts For A Well-Oiled Remedy
by Ann M. Thayer (Chemical and Engineering News) Scottish startup to make biobased chemicals from the leftovers of whisky production The process for making Scotch whisky uses three ingredients: water, yeast, and a grain, primarily barley. About 10% of the output is
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Seaweed Shortage Sets Back Dunbar Biofuel Plans
(East Lothian Courier) A Study involving seaweed washed up at Dunbar has been delayed – due to a lack of seaweed! Earlier this year, it was announced a project could be created to use the seaweed from the town’s East
October 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Wins Top Motor Vehicle Sustainability Award
(Celtic Renewables) Celtic Renewables has been recognised by the motor industry, winning a top honour at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP)’s annual Low Carbon Champions awards. The company won the Low CVP’s award for Low Carbon Innovation by an SME at a gala dinner in Milton
September 15, 2014 Read Full Article
Celtic Renewables Raises $2M, Partners with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Celtic Renewables raises $2M, partners with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant Celtic Renewables, the Edinburgh-based biofuel company, has signed an agreement with Europe’s foremost biotechnology pilot facility to undergo next stage testing of its process to
June 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Of Auxins, Toxins and Raging Hormones: Does Biochar Really Work?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... One of the latest entries is a study out of the UK’s University of Southampton, with assist from researchers in Scotland and Italy, that delves into the pros and cons of the soil amendment known
April 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Government Announces Boost in Funding for Scottish Biofuel Programme
(The Edinburgh Reporter) The Scottish Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, on Wednesday announced a funding boost for the Scottish Biofuel programme at Edinburgh Napier University’s Sighthill campus. He pledged that along with funding from the EU, Scottish Enterprise
March 10, 2014 Read Full Article
EPSRC Awards £1.15m Grant to RGU and University of St Andrews Researchers for Biofuel Project in UK
(Energy Business Review) The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has awarded funding of £1.15m to Robert Gordon University (RGU) and University of St Andrews researchers for a project to investigate photocatalytic bioethanol production. The four-year project is aimed at
December 05, 2013 Read Full Article
How Whisky Makers Could Soon Be Providing A Superior Biofuel
by Jeff Spross (ThinkProgress.org) With any luck, future whisky fans may be able to enjoy their three fingers in the afternoon with the added knowledge they’ve contributed to a climate-friendly energy economy.According to E&E News, a biochemist in Scotland recently
November 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels, Whiskey and Me
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In China, Dr. Martin Tangney recently appeared at the TEDxWanChai meet-up in Hong Kong, with a talk entitled “Biofuels, Whiskey and me”. It reflects on Tangney’s experience of establishing the UK’s first Biofuel Research Centre and spinning
August 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Seaweed Biomass Cultivation Trials Concluding for At-Sea Project
by Chris Hanson (Biomass Magazine) The three-year European biofuel and biomaterial project, At-Sea, will conclude its first trials of seaweed cultivation off the coasts of Norway, Scotland and Ireland the end of the week of July 1. At-Sea, which began in
July 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Seaweed Biofuels: A Green Alternative that Might Just Save the Planet
by Damian Carrington (The Guardian) Producing biofuels in the sea removes at a stroke many of the serious problems with conventional biofuels "It's best to get it out of the water now or it'll start getting grazed by the little beasties," says
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Scottish Startup Thinks Whiskey Can Fuel More than an Epic Bender
by Signe Brewster (GigaOm/The Washington Post) That 15-year Macallan you’ve been saving for a special occasion has a dark side: It was extremely inefficient to produce. The Scottish malt whiskey industry currently disposes of 90 percent of the liquid it produces because it
July 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Biochar Slashes Bioenergy Soil Emissions
by Tom Marshall (Planet Earth Online) Adding charcoal to land used to grow bioenergy crops can greatly increase their overall benefit in helping cut our greenhouse-gas emissions, scientists have shown. Applying so-called 'biochar' before planting energy crops can cut soil greenhouse-gas
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Europe Hopes Algae Biofuel Grown in Seawater will Reduce Coal Consumption
by Joao Peixe (OilPrice.com) In Europe’s quest for alternative energy sources to reduce its ever growing consumption of coal, a new EU research consortium, known as AccliPhot, has been created. Based at the University of Aberdeen it is researching the potential
February 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Growing Palm Oil Trees For Biofuels Could Accelerate Climate Change, Study Finds
by Nina Chestney (Reuters/Huffington Post) Growing palm oil trees to make biofuels could be accelerating the effects of climate change, new research showed on Wednesday, adding further weight to claims the crop is not environmentally sustainable. In a paper published in the
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Programme Launched in Scotland
(Biofuels International) A new Scottish biofuel programme officially launched this month after securing over a million pounds worth of investment. The programme is a partnership between five Scottish universities and research institutions, with the £1.6 million ($2.5 million) funding coming via
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Centre for Process Innovation Helps Make Whisky Fuel
by Kelley Price (Evening Gazette) A Scottish whisky distillery is about to become the first in the world to turn its waste into advanced biofuel - here on Teesside. Tullibardine, an independent malt whisky producer, is using Centre for Process Innovation’s
November 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Scottish Buses Switch up to B30 Biofuel
(The Green Car Website) Stagecoach buses in Scotland are cleaning up their act with a new blend of biofuel. Some 530 buses and coaches in East Scotland area and almost 400 vehicles vehicles operating as part of the Stagecoach’s West Scotland
October 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Green Investment Bank Cleared by European Commission
(BBC News) The Green Investment Bank being set up by the UK government has been given the green light by the European Commission. It ruled that the plan to lend for low carbon investment projects did not break Europe's state aid
October 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Whisky Distillery Tries a Wee Dram of Biofuel
(Reuters) A small Scottish whisky maker is aiming to turn its by-products into biofuel and become the world's first whisky distillery to fuel car and trucks in a move which could see Scotland's 100-plus distilleries feed a new 60-million-pound industry. Independent
September 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Biofuels Approval Boost to Scottish Oilseeds
(The Bioenergy Site) NFU Scotland and Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) have welcomed the announcement that the European Commission has accepted SQC into the sustainability certification scheme for biofuels. That recognition is a huge boost ahead of the Scottish oilseed rape
August 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Scottish Renewables Investment Tops £2.8bn
by James Murray (Business Green) Scotland's status as one of the world's leading renewable energy markets was again underlined last week, after new figures revealed the sector has attracted more than £2.8bn of capital investment since the start of 2009. The
August 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Tobacco, Alcohol And … Seaweed? Three Innovative Methods For Producing Biofuels
by Max Frankel (ThinkProgress) ...But in the world of science, researchers around the world are working on some very innovative ways to produce gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from more sustainable feedstocks. Here’s a look at three cool recent developments
June 14, 2012 Read Full Article
Environmental Benefit of Biofuels Is Overestimated, New Study Reveals
(EurekAlert) Two scientists are challenging the currently accepted norms of biofuel production. A commentary published today in GCB Bioenergy reveals that calculations of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from bioenergy production are neglecting crucial information that has led to the overestimation of the
June 11, 2012 Read Full Article
Scotland Creates £3.4m Fund to Help Business Develop Green Technologies
(ClickGreen) Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney has today announced funding to increase the energy and low carbon support available to Scottish companies. The Scottish Government has awarded £3.4 million of European Regional Development Funding to six projects from leading Scottish universities and
March 01, 2012 Read Full Article
Glasgow Biofuels Scientist Unfurls ‘Electric Leaf’
by Clive Cookson (Financial Times) Scottish scientists have found a more efficient way to make biofuels, using electricity rather than sunlight. Their “electric leaf” is based on photosynthetic bacteria whose biochemistry has been changed through radical genetic engineering to make a
February 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Scots Whisky Biofuel Team Launch Start-Up
(Edinburgh Napier University) A NEW company has been launched to commercialise a process for producing biofuel made from whisky by-products. Celtic Renewables Ltd, a spin-out from Edinburgh Napier University’s Biofuel Research Centre, will initially focus on Scotland’s £4 billion malt whisky industry
January 27, 2012 Read Full Article
B30 Biodiesel Blend Fuels Carbon Reduction Bid
(Argent Energy) Switching to Argent Energy's 30 per cent biodiesel blend is helping a leading leaflet marketing specialist in its ambition to become carbon neutral by 2015. EAE Ltd, who distribute display stands, tourist information leaflets and other promotional material to some 5,000
October 21, 2011 Read Full Article
Argent Secures £7m in Funding from RBS
(Biofuels International) Biodiesel producer Argent Energy Group has been awarded £7 million (€8.1 million) from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to help fund its development. ...Lombard is funding the purchase of innovative equipment that will enable Argent to convert used
October 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Scientists Look to Milk Potential of Cows' Stomachs for Biofuels
(News.stv.tv) Researchers hope that the animals' ability to break down trees and plant material can be harnessed to create renewable fuels. Scottish scientists are hoping to harness the power of cow's stomachs to create a new range of biofuels. Researchers in Aberdeen
July 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Insight into Plant Behavior Could Aid Quest for Efficient Biofuels
(University of Edinburgh/Labspaces) ...Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that the tiny organism has developed coping mechanisms for when its main food source is in short supply. Understanding these processes will help scientists develop crops that can survive when
June 29, 2011 Read Full Article
More Advances in Producing Inexpensive Hydrogen
by Glenn Meyers (CleanTechnica) There is now more good news on producing hydrogen, the clean-burning fuel that leaves behind water as an emission. An international scientific team has announced creating hydrogen using ambient temperatures and pressure through a combination of sunlight
May 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Scientists Aim to Improve Photosynthesis to Increase Food and Fuel Production
(University of Glasgow) Scientists from the University of Glasgow are working with international colleagues on a £5.4m collaboration to improve the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process whereby biological systems convert sunlight into food and the source of all the
April 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Potato Power Future of Biofuels, Vodka Maker Says
by Emma Jackson (WardsAuto.com) First scotch, now vodka. William Chase, founder of Chase Vodka, has launched a plan to convert waste potatoes from his U.K. distillery into a high-grade biofuel for vehicles. “We have known for a long time that potato starch
September 09, 2010 Read Full Article
Whisky By-Products Used to Produce Biofuel to Power Cars
(Telegraph) Scientists say they have created a new biofuel made from whisky by-products which could be used to help power cars currently on the road. Edinburgh Napier University has filed a patent for the product, which can be used in ordinary
August 20, 2010 Read Full Article
Distillery Using Algae to Cut CO2
(BBC) One of Scotland's best known whisky distilleries is taking part in a scheme to cut carbon dioxide emissions using oil-producing algae. The Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire will use the ground-breaking system to turn fumes generated by whisky production into