Edinburgh firm Celtic Renewables has made the world 's first test - drive of a car powered by the by - products from the whisky distillery industry . Working with Perthshire 's Tullibardine Distillery , Celtic Renewables used kernels of barley called Scotch , and pot ale - a yeasty liquid left over from fermentation , to create biobutanol . But it will also be targeting other whisky-producing countries, such as Japan, India and the US. It is a " direct replacement , here and now , for petrol " , as current car engines required no modification to use the fuel , said the company , which has received a £ 9 m government grant to build a demonstration plant in Grangemouth , near Falkirk , set to open in 2019 .
Edinburgh firm Celtic Renewables has made the world 's first test - drive of a car powered by the by - products from the whisky distillery industry . Working with Perthshire 's Tullibardine Distillery , Celtic Renewables used kernels of barley called Scotch , and pot ale - a yeasty liquid left over from fermentation , to create biobutanol . It is a " direct replacement , here and now , for petrol " , as current car engines required no modification to use the fuel , said the company , which has received a £ 9 m government grant to build a demonstration plant in Grangemouth , near Falkirk , set to open in 2019 .