Not directly about the Scottish Nationalist’s election victory but about using whisky making waste to fuel electricity generation.

Permission has been granted for the building of a biomass power plant in the village of Rothes. This is in the heart of Speyside, home of around 50 Whisky distilleries. The feed stock for the plant will include draff and pot ales that are waste products from the distilling process supplemented with pelletised wood. 16 local distilleries within a 25 mile radius will provide feedstock. An anerobic digester will produce gas for the generating plant and the waste from the digester will be useable as fertilizer . The plant is designed to produce 7.2 mW and will also provide district heating. This scale of plant appropriate to local generating schemes being able to supply the local area with power and heat. This development should be operational by 2013.

This is not the first renewable energy solution for the Whisky industry in Scotland. At Cameronbridge Distillery in Fife a bio-energy plant is close to completion. This will provide 5.5 mW electricity and thermal energy for the plant also using an anerobic digester to convert distillery waste to biogas.

The SNP have a pledged to ensure that 100% of Scotland’s electricity will be from renewable sources by 2020. This is a very ambitious target will be heavily pushed during the next Scottish Parliament now the SNP have a proper majority. It will be interesting to see how different technologies are used to achieve this target and to ensure that projects are truly sustainable rather than a short term attempt by companies to cash in on grant money that will be available.

Kevan Shaw May 6, 2011