The Scottish Biofuel Programme has been granted a further £219,000 to help businesses to realise value from unavoidable organic residues by processing to renewable energy.
The programme which is hosted by the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University – now aims to support a further 40 businesses and it hopes to take nine of them further on their journey to implementation of low-carbon and waste-saving projects.
The programme provides tiered support, awareness raising, identification, evaluation and development of opportunities, and development of networks and partnerships.
An independent Economic Impact Assessment of the Scottish Biofuel Programme revealed that the gross impacts attributable to the support are estimated at £9.9m in turnover, gross value added (GVA) of £3.5m, and 17 jobs created over the programme period from April 2012 to June 2015.
The report identifies that there is a strong and clear continuing rationale for the Scottish Biofuel programme, including a highly supportive legislative and policy environment for activity in pursuit of low carbon agenda.
Manchester-based recycling company Saica Natur UK was one of the businesses supported in the programme, where some of the waste paper they collect and sort was identified as a potential raw material for biofuel production.
Phil Towers, UK business development director, Saica Natur UK – which has depots in Dundee and Kirkcaldy – said: “The assistance from the Scottish Biofuel Programme was tremendous. They provided technical and financial know how and support to test the production of advanced biofuel from our waste paper and opened up a potential brand new market opportunity.
“We are delighted that the programme will continue to support the recycling industry with disruptive technology for new ways to grow and develop”.
Professor Martin Tangney, Director of the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University said: “Our work has been focused on sustainability, where we view industrial and agricultural biological residues as a resource and not a waste.
“The conversion of waste to forms of renewable energy fits perfectly with the zero waste and carbon reduction targets of the Scottish Government and we are delighted that we can continue the good work of the programme with this new funding and the crucial ongoing support of the funding agencies”.
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