Helius CoRD Will Use Whisky For Biofuel

The Combination of Rothes Distillers (CoRD) has just announced their intentions to enter into a joint endeavor with Helius Energy PLC. The venture is to be called Helius CoRD and will focus on building renewable energy plants aimed at reducing CO2 emitted by the whisky manufacturing process in Speyside, an Island off Scotland.

With the agreement now signed and official, construction and development permits are expected to follow in the coming weeks, and construction will most likely begin sometime early next year. The project, designed to reduce carbon emissions at a whisky producing facility on the Scottish island of Speyside, is estimated to be a £50 million [US $81.2 million] endeavor.

The byproduct from whisky production, known as Pot Ale, can be used to fuel a biomass power plant planned for construction by the new joint venture company, Helius CoRD. The plant, a 7.2 MW GreenSwitch biomass plant, will be used to generate enough energy to fuel the production facility as well as sell some back to the national grid.

In December 2008, the plans for the project won the Best Environmental Initiative award at the Scottish Green Energy awards and once completed is expected to decrease CO2 emissions at the whisky production facility by 20,000 tonnes