A SCOTTISH distillery will shortly become the first in the world to go completely green by creating its own electricity from the whisky-making process.
The plan to create volts from malts involves using waste products from distillation to generate power.
Bruichladdich distillery on Islay says the £300,000 project will create enough electricity to export to local homes, cut the cost of transporting waste, and benefit the environment.
The firm has teamed up with a company called BioWayste to turn the waste, called pot ale, into useful power.
The pot ale, rich in protein and carbohydrates, has previously been dumped into the sea.
Although the dumping is not in itself harmful, turning the pot ale into electricity to drive the distillery means less power has to be taken from the grid.
Mark Reynier, managing director of Bruichladdich distillery, said: “We are doing it for a practical and sensible reason and because it’s common sense. Continue reading →
A SCOTS college is going green as it launches a new training centre for renewable energies.
Edinburgh’s Telford College is beginning the initiative on Monday which will see a dedicated Renewable Energies Training Centre be built within the college’s campus in Granton.
The college will be signing a partnership agreement with PPL Training, who is one of the leading training providers for renewable energies in the UK, to launch the new centre.
ECO protestors stormed the grounds surrounding the Royal Bank of Scotland HQ in Edinburgh today.
They also launched other climate change protests in the city centre as police made a small number of arrests.
Around 150 activists – going under the name Climate Group – pitched 30 tents and a small marquee inside the grounds of the RBS campus shortly before bank staff reported for duty at 9am.
Police and security guards in high visibility vests immediately set up a cordon round the sprawling Gogarburn site near Edinburgh Airport, and positioned officers on the RBS bridge overhanging the main A8 road nearby.
The protest is over financial support for fossil fuel investments. Continue reading →
CHINESE firms are planning to sell electric cars in Scotland for as little as £5,000.
Imports expected to arrive next year are set to slash the price of green cars, many of which are sold for around £20,000.
And currently many electric models have a range of just 60-70 miles, making them a luxury to all but the most eco-conscious drivers.
However, many of the new generation vehicles, made by firms like BYD, will top the 100-mile barrier, with some reaching a range of 200 miles. Continue reading →
THE Scottish Government was accused of letting down OAPs over fuel yesterday – as they launched a radical new scheme aimed at improving energy consumption.
Scottish Finance Minister John Swinney unveiled a plan to lend cash to homeowners to help them install double-glazing, replace faulty boilers and fit eco-friendly wind turbines or solar panels.
The package would see interest-free loan of between £500 and £10,000, allowing householders to improve their carbon footprint and cut their fuel bills while reducing emissions.
But Scottish Labour’s Andy Kerr condemned the scheme, and said that the SNP government offers “cold comfort” to Scotland’s householders.
Mr Kerr, Shadow Finance Secretary and MSP for East Kilbride, said: “A pilot scheme to provide loans is cold comfort to many and not an adequate response to this Government’s failure. Continue reading →
YOUNG people are being urged to go green when considering which career path they choose to take in life.
A new initiative is encouraging job seekers to look in the environmental sector – with more staff needed to respond to the fight against climate change.
And the campaign was backed by TV’s Heather Reid – who landed a job as a BBC weathergirl after finishing her degree in physics.
Yesterday, speaking outside Holyrood, ‘Heather the weather’ said she got involved in the Careers Scotland drive because of the relationship between weather and climate change.
She said: “Weather is obviously so closely linked to the environment and I have always been interested in how our weather is going to change over the next couple of decades because of global warming.
“Young people are the next generation and they are going to solve some of the problems that we have created.
“Hopefully this initiative is going to widen that and build on those opportunities that we already have.”
Jobs that are being offered for green-minded youngsters include turbine engineers for wind farms, to traditional jobs like plumbers.
Alex Blackwood, head of key labour market services at Careers Scotland said some tradesmen would need a new type of skill-set to match the renewable fuels that will be burning in the future.
He said: “We’re launching the initiative because we estimate that there will be a further 50,000 jobs in this area within the next ten years and we need people to fill these jobs.
“At the same time, it’s about a government policy to make a difference to our carbon footprints.
“We need people to work in these areas so that we can make a difference.”
The campaign is being called The Path is Green (tp:g) and aims to highlight the 80,000 jobs already available in Scotland in industries such as recycling and conservation.
And the crusade is going online with advertising across social networking sites to let young people know what qualification they will need before getting involved.
Speaking at the launch, a 25-year-old mechanical engineer revealed the challenges involved in generating renewable electricity from ocean waves.
Ros Hart – who works for Pelamis Wave Power – said: “It’s good to be involved in something that is making a difference and changing the world for the better.
“In my job, I’ve also been lucky enough to work in other countries. Wave power is a brand new area of engineering and every day there are new problems to solve.”
The scheme launched by Careers Scotland – part of the new Skills Development Scotland Organisation – was backed by Enterprise Minister Jim Mather.
He said: “The global challenge to tackle climate change brings many opportunities for rewarding careers.
“Our huge renewable potential means Scotland will be at the forefront of the green energy revolution, bringing tremendous opportunities for people to work in this high profile industry
“Working in renewables will not only give you an exciting and varied career, you’ll be helping our economic recovery and helping to save the planet.”
Words by Douglas Walker, Deadline Press and Picture Agency
CELTIC may be famous for wearing green but when it comes to being environmentally friendly they are infamous according to conservationists.
The club has been criticised by eco-groups after they admitted leaving power sapping screens constantly on at Celtic Park.
The giant monitors are situated behind each goal but rather than only being switched on for matches, they are never switched off.
Now environmental groups have slammed the club for “wasting energy”.
A Celtic spokesman confirmed the screens are left on permanently due to technical reasons but refused to elaborate any further.
He said: “The screens are working perfectly. There are various technical reasons why they remain on.”
Conservationists have been quick to condemn Celtic’s dismissive attitude to the environment.
Stuart Hay, head of research for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “This energy wastage will be costing Celtic money and contributing to climate change.
“If other clubs can switch off their big screens then so can Celtic. They might play in green but wasting energy like this is anything but.”
Dr Dan Barlow, acting director of WWF Scotland, added: “We have to do much more to reduce the amount of energy being wasted, so there is a responsibility on the actions of all.
“We would encourage Celtic to overcome the technical issues in order to switch the screens off, as we all have to step up our efforts to reduce the output of energy and carbon dioxide.”
Last night the screens could be seen on from outside the stadium and still showed the 1-0 score line from Celtic’s match with Benfica.
The £1m screens have been troublesome since they were installed and are frequently breaking. The company who installed them has gone bust meaning the club would face a major bill to have any problem sorted.
Celtic Park has been chosen as the venue for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The club stated they had a number of environmental initiatives in place, including a mobile phone recycling plan, but refused to give any more details.
Deadline Press & Picture Agency 