Microbial Fuel Cells

[Aggie]

Oddly enough, "scientists and Australian beer maker Foster's are teaming up to generate clean energy from brewery waste water by using sugar-consuming bacteria," and better yet, the University of Queensland will host a microbial fuel cell at a Foster's Group brewery near Brisbane.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/03/fosters-to-aid-in-first-beer-battery-fuel-cell-project/

I can think of a host of other industries to apply this technology to....  GREAT to see some microbe-based electricity generation.
I have to heartily agree with the first comment, however:

I would describe Fosters as "brewery waste water", so why not just hook up the output of the brewery straight into the power plant...

Can Molson be next? 


If anyone can dig up additional details on microbial fuel cells, I'd be very interested.  Imagine - one day we could be powering up on feedlot waste, or fueling the car on raw sewage. 

Wiki here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_fuel_cell

[Sibling Lambicus the Toluous]

I've seen microbe-based generation in municipal composting as well (food waste goes in, meets the microbes, methane and compost comes out).

As for Molson (or any other brewery), I don't see why not.  Aside from any altruistic environmental benefits, it sounds like a microbe-based generation system is basically a machine that generates free electricity and good PR.  What's not to like?

[Aggie]

I've seen microbe-based generation in municipal composting as well (food waste goes in, meets the microbes, methane and compost comes out).

As for Molson (or any other brewery), I don't see why not.  Aside from any altruistic environmental benefits, it sounds like a microbe-based generation system is basically a machine that generates free electricity and good PR.  What's not to like?

This skips the methane generation step and goes directly to electricity; actually, since it's supposed to be fermentation-based, it may have the additional advantage of producing CH₄ as a byproduct = more electricity or heating fuel.  Very, very win-win on the surface.

As for Molson, I was talking about their product, not by-product. 

[Opsa]

I'd vote for many of our U.S. brews to be used for energy rather than drinking.  Except Black Toad, which RULES!!!!

This is the first I've heard of the brewery-generated fuel. Fascinating!