Treatment of Distillery by-products and Decarbonisation of Energy Network
Forss Site Feasibility Study
In April 2021, a collaborative project between University of the Highlands and Islands, University of Hull and Abbey Ecosse Ltd was launched.
The project is a feasibility study which will focus on decarbonisation of energy networks through a flexible energy system that is built around the anaerobic digestion of distillery by-products. The anaerobic digestion plant will treat the pot ale and spent lees from a local distillery to produce biogas which will form the heart of an energy network. As a collection of interconnected energy assets, this will supply flexible energy (electricity and heat) to meet demands of local business and housing as well as export from the site. Rapid electric vehicles chargers will be provided for community use and biogas will also be stored and transported for off-site usage (e.g. at the distillery). The only products from the anaerobic digestion system will be biogas, a concentrated bio-nutrient digestate, and clean water for discharge.
The objectives of this feasibility project are:
the development of a replicable business model using the demonstration site, and
a study into its carbon footprint such that decarbonisation claims can be supported with evidence and used to inform future replication.
The plant and energy system itself is part-funded through the Scottish Government Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and so this project provides an excellent opportunity to analyse the carbon footprint and waste reduction potential of integrated low-carbon systems, in an area of Scotland where self-reliance and circular economy principles are key to a just and local decarbonisation effort. Development of a replicable business plan is associated with challenges surrounding site specifics; examples include biomass supply logistics, agreements and sustainability; community engagement, social licence and delivering local benefits; complex and/or bespoke energy supply arrangements (physical and contractual) with commercial and domestic connections, and supply-demand management of multiple energy vectors.
The feasibility project will investigate some of these issues to facilitate future replication of the benefits delivered at the Forss Business and Energy Park. This project will also assess the environmental benefits of the proposed system, predominantly focussing on the greenhouse gas reduction compared with business-as-usual approaches for small-scale distilleries co-product management.
Abbey Ecosse is leading a partnership of suppliers to demonstrate a modular anaerobic digestion system for treatment of distillery co/by-products at the Ecosse North Coast Energy Network at Forss Business and Energy Park in Caithness, Scotland.
Contact Info:
Neil Robertson, neil.robertson@abbeyecosse.com
Mark Walker, Mark.Walker@hull.ac.uk
University of Highlands and Islands
Finlay Kerr, Finlay.kerr@uhi.ac.uk
Benjamin Williamson, Benjamin.Williamson@uhi.ac.uk