North British Distillery

The Challenge

NBD installed a 500kW anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at its Edinburgh site in 2010. This converts the liquid waste from the grain whisky process into biogas, which fuels an engine that in turn drives an alternator, generating up to 450kW of electricity which is all used on the site.

Utilising this waste meant that NBD avoided paying waste removal costs, but that alone didn’t make the plant economical to operate, so the team tasked Trident with finding solutions to:

• Maximise revenue potential from the operation of its AD plant
• Maximise the environmental benefits of operating the plant

The Solution

Our experienced consultants managed to secure Ofgem accreditation for the plant, which entitled NBD to receive Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) subsidies. 

NBD also has a commitment to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to reduce its impact on the environment, so we looked at ways to utilise the waste heat generated by the engine. We advised that by connecting a waste heat boiler to the back of the engine, NBD could generate steam to use in the distilling process. Having first assessed both technical and financial considerations to determine the viability of the project, we advised on certain design aspects to maximise efficiencies and ensure that the installation qualified for the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.

The Benefits

Reusing waste heat in the distilling process enables NBD to fulfil its commitment to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. By monitoring output levels and managing ongoing monthly FiT reporting and data submission, we ensure that NBD will receive annual payments of £224,000 for the next 25 years. Meanwhile, the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme payments bring in a further £56,000 per annum, guaranteed for the next 20 years.