A professor from Macroom, who is a leading biofuel and sustainability expert, has been awarded an honorary OBE of the British Empire for services to engineering and energy.
A PROFESSOR from Macroom, who is a leading biofuel and sustainability expert, has been awarded an honorary OBE of the British Empire for services to engineering and energy.
Professor Martin Tangney, is based at the Edinburgh Napier University and is the founder and president of Celtic Renewables Ltd.
Speaking about his award at a ceremony in City Chambers in Edinburgh Professor Tangney said: ‘This is an immense honour that I am both proud and humbled to accept. I am particularly delighted to be presented with this award in Edinburgh, as this is where I have made my career and if I in anyway at all deserve an OBE it is only because of my work in Scotland.
‘I hope that I represent the strong Irish diaspora here who have been contributing to Scottish society in so many ways for so many years in our shared heritage and I will continue to do my best to remain worthy of this tremendous accolade.’
The Lord Lieutenant Frank Ross, who presented the honorary OBE to Professor Tangney on behalf of the Queen said that his ‘innovative approach to biofuel production has made industry ripples around the world.’
‘This medal recognised the lasting and meaningful impact on engineering and technology he has made,’ said Lord Lieutenant Ross.
Professor Tangney is best known for developing a process to convert the residues of the whiskey industry into an advanced sustainable biofuel called biobutanol – a direct replacement for petrol – not only providing a sustainable disposal route for the by-products of one of the country’s largest industries, but also integrating renewable fuel production with environmental sustainability and carbon reduction.
Celtic Renewables Ltd. is in advanced stages of building a ground breaking world first for Scotland, an advanced sustainable biofuel plant. He has also been applauded by NGOs, industry leaders and international Government leaders alike for his innovative ideas relating to biobutanol.
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