Anheuser-Busch goes green with solar, bio-energy recovery systems

Anheuser-Busch goes green with solar, bio-energy recovery systems
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | July 31, 2008

FAIRFIELD - Anheuser-Busch's plant in Fairfield will brew beer by the end of the year with a big contribution from alternative energy sources.

The plant will draw power from the sun and from its own brewing wastewater.

'We like to look at different ways of reducing our (environmental) impact,' said Kevin Finger, the plant manager. 'We believe that's part of our past and future of being a good corporate citizen and partner here in Fairfield.'

Workers are busy assembling the $10 million bio-energy recovery system. Two outdoor metal tanks about 25 feet tall and 80 feet wide are being constructed.

One million gallons of brewing wastewater can be piped into the tanks, where microorganisms will digest the leftover sugars, carbohydrates and other ingredients. This process creates methane, which will be piped back to the brewery to help fuel the boilers.

Methane generated by the bio-energy recovery system will replace 15 percent of the natural gas used by the plant. Anheuser-Busch already has bio-energy recovery systems at nine of its 12 breweries in the United States. The first one was installed in 1991.

'Any industry that has a relatively biodegradable waste stream can use this technology,' said Al Beers, Anheuser-Busch's process manager for brewing, operations and technology.

The microorganisms are naturally occurring. The trick is to get them concentrated enough to take up a minimum amount of space.

'Basically, any wetlands have them,' Finger said.

The brewery is also turning to solar power. It has an agreement with SunEdison to build a 1.2-megawatt solar array with some 6,000 panels on about 7 acres near the plant. SunEdison will own the array and sell the electricity to Anheuser-Busch.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.