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Electricity From Wine Byproducts

DO YOU PREFER YOUR WINE TO BE RED, WHITE – OR GREEN? WE’RE EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY THAT CONVERTS WINE WASTE INTO POWER, SO CLEAR YOUR PALATE FOR TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

CANADA’S STORMFISHER BIOGAS AND INNISKILLIN WINES HAVE JOINED FORCES TO GENERATE ENERGY FROM GRAPE BYPRODUCTS.

RYAN LITTLE OF STORMFISHER BIOGAS EXPLAINS THAT THE GRAPE WASTE, INSTEAD OF BEING SENT TO A LANDFILL, IS PLACED IN A HUGE, TEMPERATURE-REGULATED VAT.

LITTLE: THAT ENCOURAGES DECOMPOSITION OF THE ORGANIC MATTER, AND WHEN ORGANIC MATTER DECOMPOSES, IT GIVES OFF GAS.

THE PROCESS IS CALLED ANAEROBIC DIGESTION, AND THE GAS IT PRODUCES IS MOSTLY METHANE, WHICH CAN BE CAPTURED AND USED TO MAKE ELECTRICITY.  AND WITH MORE AND MORE AMERICANS TOASTING TO THE BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE INITIATIVE IS POISED TO GROW.  LITTLE HOPES IT WILL SOON INCLUDE WINERIES IN THE UNITED STATES AS WELL.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

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