Funding boost for Grangemouth whisky waste-to-chemicals firms

By Andy Extance2026-01-19T13:37:00

The exterior of a new industrial bio refinery showing pipes, stairs and large distillation tanks

Source: © Ashley Coombes/Celtic Renewables

Governments hope £9 million in grants will help MiAlgae and Celtic Renewables replace oil-refining jobs

Two startups in Grangemouth, UK, that produce chemicals by fermenting whisky residues have won over £9 million in government funds, attempting to fill the economic gap left as the nearby oil refinery closes. The UK government is also providing £120 million in guaranteed loans and grants for Ineos’s Grangemouth ethylene plant, with the aim of preserving and rebuilding critical chemicals infrastructure in the area.