Whisky generates a lot of waste. It could soon help fuel your car
By Rebecca Cairns, CNN Business
April 25, 2022
News article: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/business/whisky-waste-biofuel-climate-celtic-renewables-scn-hnk-spc-intl
As a whisky enthusiast, I was intrigued by this article the moment I saw the title. Little did I know it highlights how whisky production can contribute to biofuel generation. Imagine a world where your car's fuel doesn't just come from oil wells, but from the remnants of whisky production. Thanks to innovative companies like Celtic Renewables, this vision is becoming a reality. By transforming whisky by-products into sustainable biofuels, they are not only reducing waste but also offering a greener alternative to traditional gasoline. Biofuels are renewable energy sources derived from organic materials, known as biomass, which include plant and animal matter. Unlike fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form, biofuels can be produced over relatively short periods, making them a more sustainable alternative. The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.
Whisky is among the most globally traded spirits, generating $5.9 billion in export revenue in 2021 and significantly boosting the national economy. However, its production produces substantial waste, including 2.5 kg of solid draff, 8 liters of liquid pot ale, and 10 liters of watery spent lees per liter of whisky. This results in 684,000 metric tons of draff and over 2.3 billion liters of pot ale annually. While some waste is repurposed as animal feed, the rest is discarded in landfills or waterways, posing environmental concerns.
Martin Tangney, a biofuel scientist and founder of Celtic Renewables, has developed an innovative way to repurpose whisky production waste. By using a fermentation process, he transforms by-products into biochemicals that can partially replace petrol and diesel in cars, while also producing oil-based products. Although plant-based biofuels have existed since the 19th and early 20th centuries, relying on crops proved too expensive. Tangney aims to create a commercially viable and sustainable alternative by using low-cost waste materials.
The acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation process was used to break down sugars in whisky draff and pot ale into acids, which were then converted into solvents like butanol and ethanol. These can be blended with petrol or diesel to fuel cars. According to Celtic Renewables, 15% of the biobutanol used in cars on Scottish roads comes from whisky waste. This method is not limited to whisky by-products; it can also be applied to waste from other food industries, such as dairy.
Traditional biofuels like corn, soy, and sugarcane require vast land, undermining their environmental benefits. By impacting biodiversity, carbon storage, and food security. In contrast, whisky waste-based biofuel offers a sustainable alternative. Martin Tangney has commissioned a study on its environmental impact, pending release. With biofuels making up just 3% of global transport fuel, their impact remains limited. Reducing transport demand is crucial for sustainable energy use. Whisky waste has uses beyond biofuel production. According to Tangney, the solvents derived from its fermentation can serve as an oil alternative in plastics, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, clothing, and electronics.
Overall, I rate this CNN post 8.5/10. Rebecca Cairns did a great job explaining the fundamentals of biofuels to the public. The author effectively incorporates numerical data, detailing both the waste generated from whisky production and its annual revenue. The article also highlights the environmental impact of waste disposal and explains the methodology used for waste transformation. Additionally, it discusses the feasibility of this process and its potential application to other waste sources. However, the article lacks details on the actual conversion of waste into biofuel. It does not disclose the chemical composition of the waste or specify the duration of the transformation process, though biofuel production is generally faster than fossil fuel formation. Furthermore, the state of the waste before being disposed of in waterways is not addressed. Providing these details would enhance the completeness of the report.
I'm surprised more research is not being done on these to be honest. I've been hearing about biofuel/biodiesel since my 2nd year in undergrad. I remember someone tried to making biodiesel using a slurry from waste water because of the fatty acids in ... waste. Anyhow I think the biggest obstacles has always been that those made from corn and sugarcane or some sort of edible thing, give arise to the debate of do we want to more food or sacrifice it for fuel. Potentially you could also use lignocellulose to make biodiesel but it would require one hell of an enzyme or chemical process to break it down into carbohydrate dimers and monomers to ferment it. Cool article tho!!
ReplyDeleteI really liked this article! I agree that this take on alternative fuels is not discussed very much or at least I have not directly seen much about it. Are there any drawbacks to these biofuels and/or do you think there is any specific reason they are not more widely used?
ReplyDeleteHey Seth, that’s a great question! The article didn’t mention any drawbacks, but potential environmental impacts could be a concern. It did state that environmental impact studies are still ongoing and haven’t been released yet. Until then, my best guess would be that environmental concerns might be a key issue.
DeleteThis article shows a good practice of generating biofuel through fermenting ultimate waste from whisky making, and it's not limited to this resource. Compared to the "biofuel" directly from crops fermentation reported years ago, this is more genuinely the biofuel we need. Although its a good article and easy to read, one statement from it still confused me - how does the biofuel "reducing the trucks’ carbon emissions by 90%", considering the biofuel is still emitting CO2 after fully combustion?
ReplyDeleteGreat catch, Bowin! Honestly, I was a bit confused myself after reading this article. However, I believe it’s comparing CO₂ emissions from trucks using fossil fuels versus biofuels. From my quick research, biofuels create a short-term carbon cycle, as plants absorb the CO₂ released during combustion through photosynthesis, making them theoretically carbon-neutral if new crops are grown. In contrast, fossil fuels release carbon stored for millions of years, adding new CO₂ to the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
DeleteI'm surprised this idea isn't being implemented more! I'm sure it would be a great method to add into factory streamlines to help lower the cost of waste disposal while creating a helpful by-product. I was wondering, if whiskey waste production could be used to create biofuels, could other alcohol waste be used to make it as well? And also how long would the typical process be to generate enough fuel to be used in a gas station, or even just run one car?
ReplyDeleteGood point, Rebecca. 1. I believe any alcohol production that generates draff and pot ale waste can also be utilized, as these are key ingredients.
Delete2. The study did not specify this, which is one of the drawbacks I mentioned in my post—particularly regarding the conversion rate, including how much waste is transformed into biofuels and the time required for the process
This is a really exciting and innovative approach to making a new fuel source! I've never thought about whiskey having similar components to already existing fuel sources. Like you mentioned with the author, I'm wish she would have included more information about the actual conversion process itself to give the reader a little more insight into how it would actually work. I am curious, do you think the fermentation would produce a different kind of waste in the process of this conversion that would risk the goal of making a more sustainable alternative?
ReplyDeleteGood point, Smith. The Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation process is widely utilized. Its major byproducts include CO₂ and H₂, which can be captured for industrial gas applications, organic acids like acetic acid, often extracted for pharmaceutical use, and spent biomass, which serves as a valuable component in animal feed. With this, I believe we are safe.
DeleteHi Ernest. This is really shocking to know that how much waste materials are generated from whiskey production. And I do think that it is really important and wise to convert those waste into fuels and recycling products. I agree with your point, the article needs to tell us some methods and approaches, instead of just talking about a concept. I would say it is very possible that we can use bacteria to decompose or even create fermentation to these waste, and generate the fuels we want
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DeleteThe acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation process sounds super cool and useful! I am really curious about the details ABE. What kind of bacteria are mainly used for ABE fermentation? Why are acids produced first and then converted into solvents during ABE fermentation? It would be better if there were more details explaining this.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, providing more details on this process would have been helpful. The Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation process is a biological method driven by Clostridium species, primarily Clostridium acetobutylicum.
DeleteI wonder why this is not a more talked-about topic. It seems that more and more people are starting to mention the need for alternative fuels, and with the food supply and waste already produced, why not capitalize on them? I am a little confused about the fermentation process, though. They mention it but fail to provide detailed explanations of the actual process. I understand that it may not be relevant to the average person, but I feel that some curious minds may find this article lacking without this information.
ReplyDeleteSure, Lindell. Capitalizing on these waste materials would be a great move. In my opinion, utilizing waste could be one of the most cost-effective approaches to biofuel production.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading your post! I think it's fascinating that whiskey waste can be used as an alternative biofuel. I hope that companies are turning in this direction for the future! I'm curious about why so much waste is generated through whiskey production. It seems like a wonderful idea to recycle that waste, but do you think there's a way to possibly cut down on waste from whiskey production in the first place? Maybe an alternative route of producing whiskey in a more sustainable way?
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