On a somewhat lighter note, from Physorg.com, Australian beer maker Foster's is going to generate clean energy and clean water from brewery waste water by using a fuel cell in which bacteria consume the sugar, starch and alcohol in the waste.
The fuel cell is expected to produce 2 kilowatts of power — enough to power a household — and the technology would eventually be applied in other breweries and wineries owned by Foster's. The cell should be operating at the brewery by September."Brewery waste water is a particularly good source because it is very biodegradable ... and is highly concentrated, which does help in improving the performance of the cell," said Prof. Jurg Keller, the university's wastewater expert. .
The 660-gallon fuel cell will be 250 times bigger than a prototype that has been operating at Australia's University of Queensland laboratory for three months. The experimental technology was unveiled Wednesday by scientists at the university, which was given a $115,000 state government grant to install the microbial fuel cell at the brewery.
I would have preferred to see that money go to the university to improve the process. That amount of money is just too much for a production facility that can only produce 2 KW.
Posted by: Robbie | May 04, 2007 at 01:12 AM
If the 2kW is constant power, it should be enough for 2 (USA) to 5 (Europe) households.
At $0,10 per kWh though, that's a pay back time of about a century... In the original article it says that the fuel cell acts as a cleaning facility too, which could make the investment much more justified (win-win).
Posted by: Ewout | May 04, 2007 at 02:07 AM
Uhhh, two breweries already use biogas in fuel cells from brewery waste. Then waste heat from the fuel cell is used to make steam to provide cogenerated process and cleaning energy.
Not sure what this article means?
How does a fuel cell use bacteria to process alchohol, sugar, and starch? How much of that is even in the waste water?
I think this is another case of a technically illiterate reporter trying to write about technology. And the blog world bought into it. It's all over google blog search.
I'm betting it's a biogas digestor to fuel cell as in the other breweries. Already in very profitable operation, BTW.
Read about them on my blog.
Here's my entry on brewery waste to fuel cell.
Posted by: amazingdrx | May 04, 2007 at 10:36 AM
If the biogas digestor approach is indeed "very profitable", these guys must either be doing something very different, or doing it extremely badly. $57/Watt is far from profitable. Wind can barely make an unsubisdized profit at $1/Watt.
And this fuel cell won't pay for itself in electricity sales even in 100 years. Factor in interest, and it never makes a return.
I think they're expecting to make a profit by using this as a P.R. stunt and thereby selling more beer.
Posted by: John F. | May 04, 2007 at 06:28 PM
And that's fine by me, by the way. Better spend the $115K on this than advertising.
Posted by: John F. | May 04, 2007 at 06:37 PM
Using anaerobic digesters to produce biogas and running it to an ICE to make electricity and process heat is not new. The more valuable product is the organic fertilizer like Milorganite. http://www.milorganite.com/home/
Posted by: Kit P | May 04, 2007 at 07:06 PM
Using beer waste is absolutely a wonderful idea.
Posted by: micu | June 18, 2007 at 10:49 AM
How did our parents survived?
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Posted by: Run your car on water | July 20, 2008 at 10:07 PM
what a great way to really not waste any of that liquid gold.
Posted by: the prophet | August 12, 2008 at 06:09 PM
what a great way to really not waste any of that liquid gold.
Posted by: the prophet | August 12, 2008 at 06:10 PM
at first I was wondering what that drawing tool could possibly be? Then I realized what the title of this post meant-its water!
man-the end it like magic!! how do I post this video on my blog?! I want everyone to see your great idea!
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Posted by: dental care | April 30, 2010 at 05:29 PM
what a splendid idea you found on the net! of Australian beer maker Foster's is going to generate clean energy and clean water from brewery waste water by using a fuel cell in which bacteria consume the sugar, starch and alcohol in the waste.
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Posted by: muhabbet | October 23, 2010 at 12:22 AM
The 660-gallon fuel cell will be 250 times bigger than a prototype that has been operating at Australia's University of Queensland laboratory for three months.
Posted by: hanging pot racks | March 07, 2011 at 09:19 AM
Brewery waste water is a particularly good source because it is very biodegradable
Posted by: custom luggage tags | March 29, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Great way to self sustain the beer brewing facility.
Posted by: Tours of the Vatican | November 28, 2011 at 03:20 PM