Asahi to convert brewery wastewater to biogas to electricity

Did you know that the spent grain from breweries has the potential to produce energy? Breweries around the world have taken notice of this, as they seek ways to lower their environmental footprint by converting spent grain waste into biogas, which is subsequently converted into electricity. In light of the Japanese government’s Low Carbon Technology Research, Development and Demonstration Program, Japanese breweries are also taking action, feeling the urgent need to produce new resources for renewable energy.

Just recently, Asahi Quality & Innovations, Ltd. (an independent research subsidiary of Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.) put forth a demonstration project at the Asahi Breweries, Ltd., Ibaraki Brewery to generate power from fuel cells utilizing bio-methane gas (“biogas”) derived from the brewery’s wastewater. Cooperating in the project is Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS), which provided the MEGAMIE solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system for the project, and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd. (SMFL), which provided the financing. Their joint effort is expected to establish a new model for reducing CO2 emissions.

Once operational, the facility with a power output of 200 kilowatts (kW) will be capable of supplying about 1,600 (MWh) of power annually, which is enough to power 350 ordinary households. At the same time, it is expected to reduce CO2 emissions of roughly 1,000 tons a year. If the demonstration goes well, the system is scheduled to begin operations as early as sometime next month.

It’s good news that Asahi Group and its partners are eager to share their technology so that other industries can follow suit to reduce CO2 emission as well. Rather than seeking patents for the necessary refining technologies and equipment that it acquired over the demonstration project, the companies say they will disclose the information so that food and related industries can utilize the technology.

Asahi Group, MHPS and SMFL aim to utilize their respective strengths to develop and support the installation of SOFC and other technologies to curb CO2 emissions and contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.

Now that we are aware of their hard effort to creating a sustainable society, their beer might very well taste quite differently from now on.