Friday Beer Link

Jesse Walker | May 4, 2007

Greg Rehmke passes along this story with the comment, "Finally! A product that mixes biotech, alternative energy, waste reduction, clean water, and...beer."

Scientists and Australian beer maker Foster's are teaming up to generate clean energy from brewery waste water -- by using sugar-consuming bacteria....

The complex technology harnesses the chemical energy that the bacteria releases from the organic material, converting it into electrical energy.

The 660-gallon fuel cell will be 250 times bigger than a prototype that has been operating at the university laboratory for three months, [Professor Jurg] Keller said.

"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," Keller said.

Before you stiff the power company and outfit your house with beer batteries, note that Keller also says this isn't "going to make an enormous amount of power." Not just because it's a small, subsidized pilot project that might or might not turn into something larger, but because "it's primarily a waste water treatment that has the added benefit of creating electricity." Which would make a fine slogan for Foster's, if it ever wants to retire "Australian for Beer."

Comments

|5.4.07 @ 10:42AM|#

Full Disclosure: Jesse Walker's halfway through a case of Iron City right this moment.

|5.4.07 @ 10:43AM|#

If only they could find a way to hook bar room combatants to a generator.

Bhh|5.4.07 @ 10:44AM|#

Funny picture.

BeerConnoisseur|5.4.07 @ 10:45AM|#

...Brewery waste water...

I thought this stuff already had a use: "Coors Light"?

Cesar|5.4.07 @ 10:52AM|#

"Foster's....Australian for 'Brewed in Canada'".

|5.4.07 @ 10:59AM|#

Foster's is OK in a pinch. I'd rather have something that's enjoyable but that fucks you up more quickly, like Duvel or Celebrator.

|5.4.07 @ 11:02AM|#

This must be doubling as an open thread, so I shall ask a question:

Is anyone interested in the French Presidential Election? Sarkozy has a lead of 5 to 9 percentage points in the various polls today.

|5.4.07 @ 11:04AM|#

No, it's "Fosters... Canadian for "Amercican's will drink anything Australian""

|5.4.07 @ 11:04AM|#

It's always been obvious to me that beer converts into gas.

|5.4.07 @ 11:12AM|#

Foster's: Australian for "The expression 'Taking the piss' is not actually meant to be used literally."

|5.4.07 @ 11:29AM|#

A sense of dread runs through me at the thought of this sugar eating bacteria getting loose. Man, what a great summer movie plot. Gangs of sugar deprived people roaming the planet looking for Little Debbie snack treats. I see Kevin Costner as their leader.

SugarFree|5.4.07 @ 11:46AM|#

Well, I'll be safe at least. I always have wanted to star in my very own "Last Man on Earth" story.

|5.4.07 @ 11:49AM|#

Foster's is OK in a pinch. I'd rather have something that's enjoyable but that fucks you up more quickly, like Duvel or Celebrator.

Comparing Foster's to Duvel is like comparing Mad Dog to a fine Merlot.

Pretinieks|5.4.07 @ 11:50AM|#

The complex technology harnesses the chemical energy that the bacteria releases from the organic material, converting it into electrical energy.

LOL. These days, one has to avoid bad words like "methane" or "carbon dioxide", resulting in such an obscure manner of writing.

|5.4.07 @ 11:58AM|#

"A sense of dread runs through me at the thought of this sugar eating bacteria getting loose. Man, what a great summer movie plot. Gangs of sugar deprived people roaming the planet looking for Little Debbie snack treats. I see Kevin Costner as their leader."

There needs to be a plot point involving the use of Corn Syrup.

Maybe the bacteria can't digest it, or something, and they make an HFCS-based somethingorother to stop the bacteria, which can only survive on regular sugar.

Xaq Fixx|5.4.07 @ 11:58AM|#

New Belgium brewing Company already generates some of their electricity like that, and they make some hella good beers.

|5.4.07 @ 12:06PM|#

New Belgium is teh r0x0rz.

|5.4.07 @ 12:42PM|#

Is anyone interested in the French Presidential Election?

You mean the "Freedom Election?"

I never get tired of Fat Tire.

|5.4.07 @ 1:12PM|#

Fat Tire is indeed good stuff.

But, if you can, pick up some of their Spring seasonal-

Springboard.

Ellie|5.4.07 @ 3:32PM|#

Fat tire: the slutty beer!