Draff renewables plan to power two distilleries

DRINKS giant Diageo has announced plans to power two of its distilleries on Speyside by harnessing the energy potential of waste from the whisky making process.

The company is to invest £6 million in a state-of-the-art bioenergy plant at its Glenlossie distillery complex near Elgin in Moray.

The aim is to produce energy by burning draff – the spent grain left over from distilling whisky – to power both the Glenlossie site and the nearby Mannochmore distillery.

A spokeswoman for Diageo said: “The proposed new plant will build on Diageo’s industry-leading investment in renewable energy at the Roseisle distillery, the new £40m distillery which Diageo opened in Speyside last year, and a new £65m bioenergy plant at Cameronbridge distillery in Fife.”

Niall Stuart, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “This project reinforces that renewables are becoming part of mainstream business life in Scotland.”