One man has learned how to utilize the organic waste byproducts from the brewing process to create a natural gas.
Eric Fitch, CEO of PurposeEnergy Inc., has created an anaerobic methane digester that "recycles" the used hops, barley and yeast that is used to make beer by harnessing the methane gas they emit to help process wastewater. This, in turn, saves on waste disposal and from having to use and purchase natural gas.
Fitch first tested out his idea on some spent grain he acquired from Tampa's own Yeungling Brewery. Luckily, it worked. He then pitched his methane digesting machine to Magic Hat Brewing Co. in Burlington, Vermont, they went for it and installed it at their plant last year. Magic Hat is now able to use their own brewing waste to save them money on treating their wastewater. It is the "first in the world to extract energy from the spent grain and then re-use it in the brewery, and all in one place," writes John Curran of The Associated Press.
This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2011.