The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, The Honourable Donald Tsang GBM, visited Edinburgh Napier University’s Biofuel Research Centre, where Scottish scientists behind a super biofuel produced from whisky by-products are based, as part of his official visit to the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh Napier has strong links with Hong Kong’s growing renewables sector.

The Scottish university has signed a partnership deal with City University of Hong Kong to establish Hong Kong’s first Biofuel Research Centre.

And earlier this year its experts, who work closely with Hong Kong industry and government, helped launch the city’s first campaign to re-use cooking oil as renewable energy.

Mr Tsang said: “We have the experience, the talent and the determination to nurture green industry in Hong Kong and have proposed a target to reduce carbon intensity by between 50% and 60% by 2020. To do this it is essential to promote green innovation and technology.

“That is why it is fantastic to come here and see the original Biofuel Research Centre that has provided an inspirational template for the twin centre in Hong Kong, as well as for a range of other biofuel initiatives.”

Professor Martin Tangney, Director of the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, gave the Hong Kong leader an insight into some of the centre’s ongoing work – including the process behind a super biofuel made from whisky by-products. Mr Tsang met Mark Simmers, Chief Executive of Celtic Renewables, the spin out company formed to commercialise the biofuels from whisky by-products technology.

Professor Tangney said: “It is and honour to welcome the Hong Kong delegation to the campus and share some of the successes we’ve achieved. Like us, the Hong Kong Biofuel Centre will investigate excess materials to develop biofuels rather than growing crops specifically to generate biofuel. This is a more environmentally sustainable option and potentially offers new revenue streams for other industries such as the food and drink sector.”