Irish researcher scotches suggestion that whisky has only one use

It may astonish lovers of uisce beatha, but an Irish researcher has devised an alternative use for the hard stuff that promises to revolutionise our fuel use — biofuel.

Macroom man Martin Tangney a professor of biochemistry at Edinburgh Napier University, has found that the by-products of whisky production, draff and pot ale, can be harnessed before being converted into energy. Famed for Glemorangie and Glenfiddich, Scotland has a vast lake of these whisky (Irish: whiskey) by-products.

Professor Tangney has been carrying out research in the area of biofuels for a number of years and yesterday launched a new company to develop the newly patented product.