Rothes CORDe is a biomass-powered Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant located in Rothes, Scotland. It produces electricity from a combination of whisky distillery by-products and wood chips optimising by-products from the food and drink sector. Additionally, it processes pot ale into feed for livestock, biologically treats effluent waters where sludge is then used for agricultural purposes, and recovers power plant ashes for use as fertilisers on local farm fields. The company works to improve the recovery of protein for animal feed and is currently developing further assets to increase the value of various by-products and sludge from effluent treatment.   

In 2018 alone, almost 1.8 million tonnes of organic waste material were collected in Scotland, including over 400,000 tonnes of animal and food related waste generated by households and industry. Biorefining - converting biobased by-broducts and waste streams into high-value biobased products, such as chemicals or fuels - is the aim of the evolving 'bioeconomy'. Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) has estimated that harnessing value from by-products from the nation’s beer, whisky and fisheries industries alone could be worth up to £800 million per year to the Scottish economy. Moreover, biorefining can save about 50% of greenhouse gas emissions and reduce demand for fossil fuels by 80%. Biorefining is, therefore, a great opportunity area for Scotland, both in terms of environmental gains, and job creation and innovation potential. As yet it is less widely implemented than anaerobic digestion, although, in comparison to anaerobic digestion, biorefining produces higher value outputs.

Rothes CORDe is exploiting the unharnessed value of organic waste streams and using it to produce bioenergy. The company owns a biomass-powered Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant located in Rothes, Scotland. It contributes to the circular economy by producing electricity from a combination of whisky distillery by-products and wood chips, effectively optimising by-products from the food and drink sector. Additionally, it processes the residue of the fermentation wort left from the distillation of whiskey into feed for livestock, and biologically treats the plant's effluent waters before discharge. The sludge is then used for agricultural purposes, while ashes recovered from the power plant are used as fertilisers on local farm fields. The company works to improve the recovery of protein for animal feed and is currently developing further assets to increase the value of various by-products and sludge from effluent treatment.   

Expanding the bioeconomy to maximise the environmental, financial and employment opportunities associated with bioresource in Scotland will require roles and competences to be developed across agri-food sectors, as well as in industrial biotechnology. It will also depend on coordination of feedstocks and opportunities. Increasing integration of different sectors and industries, this would bring a demand for higher skills, reflecting the ongoing structural change of the sector, as manufacturing technology is increasingly introduced. Scotland’s Biorefinery Roadmap and the National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology provide frameworks for developing a more high-value bioeconomy, moving towards development of bio-based food, feed, fuel and materials. 

Rothes CORDe employs 22 people with a very technical skill-set: 

- Operations Team: [11 operators, 3 per shift] 

- Engineers Team: maintenance, process development and optimisation 

- Technicians Operatives: [e.g. Plant Attendant Department, 4 people, 1 per shift] 

- Managers Team: Managing Director, Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Compliance Manager 

- Admin Team: [2-3 people] 

The size of the business is the most important differentiator to traditional energy companies, with managers working across departments, requiring them to be multi-skilled. All managers have an engineering background and experience in waste treatment facilities. 

Operators and technicians are recruited locally. Operators come from different sectors, while most technicians come from RAF, the army, and the oil and gas sector. All employees undergo a 6-month in-house induction and training programme. There is competition for skilled employees within local industries, including the distillery industry, distillery by-products industry, the energy and the oil and gas sector.  

Rothes CORDe focuses on recruiting people with technical competence, a flexible mindset to the work, a safety culture and open communication. The sustainable nature of the business is considered a motivating factor for people wanting to join the organisation.