More Sun, More Beer

( 0 Votes )

Tuesday, 21 April 2009 21:30

Fairfield, California, April 2009 – Anheuser-Busch said Thursday its brewery in this city is generating 3 percent of its electricity needs with more than six acres of photovoltaic solar arrays, financed and operated by SunEdison. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer. The brewery also constructed a Bio-Energy Recovery System, or BERS, which provides more than 15 percent of the brewery’s fuel needs by turning nutrients in brewing wastewater into renewable biogas used to decrease the use of natural gas. Through resource conservation and alternative fuel usage, the brewery has decreased fuel use by 38 percent, water use by 32 percent and electricity use by 14 percent since 2004. The brewery also currently recycles more than 99 percent of the solid waste it generates. SunEdison financed, installed, and is operating and monitoring the photovoltaic solar energy system. The system will also generate Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for businesses or individuals to purchase to offset their use of fossil fuel energy and greenhouse gas emissions. The brewery is also evaluating the installation of a wind turbine and additional photovoltaic solar arrays on-site to generate more renewable energy. Renewable fuel at Anheuser-Busch's U.S. breweries is anticipated to reach more than 15 percent by the end of 2009. SOURCE: Sustainable Food News < Prev   Next >