Celtic Renewables plans new large-scale biorefinery in Grangemouth

Scottish green chemicals company Celtic Renewables plans to build a new industrial-scale green chemical production plant in Grangemouth.
The company has appointed engineering design consultancy Allen Associates, part of the Forsyths Group of companies, to undertake extensive work to finalise the design of the proposed new facility.
Celtic Renewables uses the ABE fermentation process to transform locally sourced by-products and waste from the food, drink and agricultural industries into low-carbon green chemicals bio-acetone, bio-butanol, and bio-ethanol.
Stirling-based Allen Associates will carry out the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study based upon the design work completed by Celtic’s engineering team for the new commercial scale biorefinery that the company intends to build in Grangemouth. The capacity of the new facility will be ten times that of the company’s current demonstrator plant.
The seven-month study will further develop Celtic’s existing plans for the proposed facility.
Celtic Renewables CEO Mark Simmers said: “This FEED project with Allen Associates is an important step for Celtic Renewables as we look to ramp up our current production capabilities to meet the growing global demand for bio-based alternatives to chemicals derived from fossil fuels.
“The team at Allen Associates have a wealth of experience in related industry sectors and an expert eye for the detail required for successful design of this type of facility. The deliverables from this FEED will give us and our investors the certainty required for the delivery of the subsequent project phases.”
Allen Associates has an established track record for project development and delivery in the Scotch Whisky industry and has worked with more than 100 distilleries in Scotland and overseas. Whisky distilleries operate using similar equipment, processes and technologies to those required for the Celtic biorefinery.
Scott Allen, Managing Director at Allen Associates, added: “Allen Associates and Celtic Renewables are examples of two successful Scottish businesses that create homegrown jobs, develop homegrown talent and draw upon local supply chains. This partnership is built on our complementary areas of expertise along with the geographical closeness of our two companies.”