One for the road

Scotch whisky maker Glenfiddich is using whisky waste to power its fleet.

The company is converting its delivery trucks to run on low-emission biogas made from waste products. These come directly from its own whisky distilling process. The move is part of a “closed loop” sustainability initiative it has implemented.

Fueling stations have been installed at its Dufftown distillery in north-eastern Scotland. It uses technology developed by its parent company William Grant & Sons to convert its production waste and residues into an Ultra-Low Carbon Fuel (ULCF) gas. This produces minimal carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions.

Traditionally, Glenfiddich has sold off spent grains left over from the malting process to be used for a high-protein cattle feed. But through anaerobic digestion – where bacteria break down organic matter producing biogas. The distillery can also use liquid waste from the process to make fuel. Eventually the company hopes to recycle all of its waste products this way.

“The thought process behind this was ‘what can we do that’s better for us all?’,”  says Stuart Watts, distillery director.

The distiller says its whisky waste-based biogas is already powering three specially-converted trucks. These transport Glenfiddich spirit from production at Dufftown through to bottling and packaging, covering four William Grant & Sons sites in central and western Scotland.

Sixteenth century English chronicler Raphael Holinshed wrote that, consumed moderately, whisky’s many medicinal benefits include preventing the “head from whirling, the tongue from lisping … the hands from shivering, the bones from aching.” It seems its waste products also benefit the environment.

The distiller claims the biogas cuts CO2 emissions by over 95% compared to diesel and other fossil fuels. This reduces other harmful particulates and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99%. Each truck will displace up to 250 tonnes of CO2 annually, Glenfiddich said.

The company has a fleet of around 20 trucks to convert in the first instance. Success will then see the rest of the company’s trucks powered in this way.