Scots Invent Boozy Biofuel

Whisky may be the drink to power your drive
By Emily Rauhala,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 18, 2010 4:49 AM CDT
Scots Invent Boozy Biofuel
One for the road?   (Shutterstock)

Scottish researchers have found a way to turn whisky waste into fuel. A team from Edinburgh Napier University combined two common whisky by-products—'pot ale' and 'draff'—to create a clean fuel that yields 30% more output power than ethanol, reports the BBC. The group hopes, eventually, to make the substance available at the pumps.

Environmentalists welcomed the news. "Since the whisky industry relies on Scotland's clean environment for its main ingredients it would be great if the industry could help Scotland reduce its emissions from road transport," says a rep from the World Wildlife Fund, noting that the production of some other biofuels can cause massive damage to forests and wildlife. The industry produces more than 400 million gallons of pot ale and 187,000 tons of draff every year. (Prefer Canadian whisky? Click here to read about the hunt for 6 hidden cases.)

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