Grangemouth biofuel plant gets green light after altering design plans

Celtic Renewables actually secured consent for its biofuel demonstration plant in Earlsgate Park on a site to the east of 3 Caledon Green back in December 2017 and construction on the facility began in 2018.

However, several design amendments – including the height of the construction – had to be made and the firm were forced to put in another application, with a number of changes to the design of the plant.

Falkirk Council planners granted the new application on July 31.

Celtic Renewables stated the amendments it made to the plan were minor ones regarding the layout of the site and had no impact on the chemical processes which will take place on the site – chemical processes Falkirk Council gave consent to back in 2017.

The amendments that were made include a reduction in overall building height of two metres, the removal of an office building, an increase in building length by 5.88 metres to incorporate office space, an increase in height of the solvent recovery structure by 2.23 metres and the creation of another pipe bridge.

When it first gained planning permission Celtic Renewables stated the commercial demonstrator plant would produce over half-a-million litres of the biofuel biobutanol each year and the two-acre site will create 25 jobs.

Biobutanol is a relatively new advanced and sustainable biofuel made using whisky residue and is widely regarded as a direct replacement for petrol and diesel.

At the time Professor Martin Tangney, Celtic Renewables’ founder, said: “This is a very exciting time for biotechnology in Scotland. Our plant, which will use entirely sustainable raw materials to make high value low carbon products, will be the first of its kind in the world.

“It will shine a global spotlight on innovation in Scotland in the low carbon economy.””

Celtic Renewables CEO Mark Simmers added: “This is a huge step forward for Celtic Renewables as this demonstration plant will enable the roll out of the technology at full industrial scale across Scotland and internationally.

“Grangemouth is the perfect location for the plant, where we can benefit from the synergies of locating within the national petrochemical hub and work with a range of complementary partners.”

Falkirk Council leader Cecil Meiklejohn was firmly behind the proposal.

She said: “Celtic Renewables choosing Grangemouth for its facility is further proof the Falkirk area is the prime location for chemical sciences development.”