William Chase, an English entrepreneur responsible for products such as Chase Vodka and Tyrells Crisps, is now exploring the possibility of manufacturing a potato-based biofuel. Indeed, Mr. Chase believes that the waste left over from his Herefordshire vodka distillery could be used to make a high grade vehicle fuel suitable for replacing conventional unleaded petrol.

“We have known for a long time that potato starch is an excellent source of bio ethanol but this new scheme will tap the resources left behind in distillery waste,” said Mr Chase. “There has been research completed at Edinburgh Napier University that has demonstrated that ‘pot ale’ (the fluids left behind from the distilling process) can be fermented into biobutanol. I don’t see why we can’t do the same in Herefordshire.”

Biobutanol is believed to be the next generation of biofuel. It gives internal combustion engines 30% more output power than ethanol. And more importantly it can fuel ordinary cars without the need for expensive adaptations to the engine. Interestingly enough, both McCain and Heinz are both believed to be exploring the use of potato peel as a source of biofuel.