Foster's to aid in first "beer battery" fuel cell project

While it's certainly debatable whether beer is to thank for the explosion in the consumer electronics industry, it looks like we'll be thanking the beverage without hesitation for making our world a little greener. Oddly enough, "scientists and Australian beer maker Foster's are teaming up to generate clean energy from brewery waste water by using sugar-consuming bacteria," and better yet, the University of Queensland will host a microbial fuel cell at a Foster's Group brewery near Brisbane. Essentially, the cell will consume brewery wastes such as sugar, starch, and alcohol, while producing clean electricity by harnessing the energy released from the organic materials coming in. The device is expected to produce two-kilowatts of power, and while hopes are to bring the technology to other breweries and wineries around the country, this iteration should crank up sometime in September.

[Via Physorg, thanks Michael T.]

[Sam @ May 3rd 2007 8:43AM]

I would describe Fosters as "brewery waste water", so why not just hook up the output of the brewery straight into the power plant...

[R @ May 3rd 2007 8:45AM]

You gotta give Foster's Public Relations Dept. credit for getting the Foster's name in the news for thing like this. Sadly, most of us Yanks couldn't even name another Australian beer if we had to, because all we've ever heard of is Fosters.

Now, if they'd only spend half that much effort on making their beer not suck . . .

[Ratz @ May 3rd 2007 10:29AM]

Foster's is hardly a great beer, though it could be a lot worse, american for example!

Why is American beer like sex in a canoe?
Because they're both f*ng close to water.

[R @ May 3rd 2007 10:40AM]

Besides, the Australians I know are the ones that tell me how crappy Foster's is, saying that there's tons of great Australian beers that Americans never hear about because they're not as famous as Foster's, or they don't get imported as much, etc. That was the point I was making. If I was unclear, then I apologize. But don't insult American breweries just because of Budweiser and Miller.

[A. @ May 3rd 2007 11:06AM]

Well, there is always Sheaf Stout...

A.

[psyc0de @ May 3rd 2007 8:49AM]

Hey fellow UQ students..

[Cyrus @ May 3rd 2007 9:07AM]

Funny that no Australian's actually drink this beer haha

[Derrick @ May 3rd 2007 9:08AM]

I wouldn't say that Foster's is "first." New Belgium's got them beat. They're not just talking about it, they've already done it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18442929/

[andrew harrison @ May 3rd 2007 9:21AM]

that's about all foster's is good for.

[Rick (the original Rick) @ May 3rd 2007 10:00AM]

huh?! Fosters makes a brew that is awesome, try their extra bitters.... I make my own brew, and this is one of the very few I'll even buy.

What do u ppl drink? Bud! lol

[R @ May 3rd 2007 10:36AM]

Let's not make general statements about a county's ENTIRE array of beer offerings, shall we? Samuel Adams, Anchor Steam, and Flying Dog beers are all excellent, and they're American.

[Dan Roberts @ May 3rd 2007 10:45AM]

Bud already does this in New Hampshire

[leep @ May 3rd 2007 10:59AM]

I cant believe no one has made a Bender reference yet...

[Mike Dillon @ May 3rd 2007 11:59AM]

On my college budget you can't beat 11.95 for a case of Naty Light

[Yoni @ May 3rd 2007 12:57PM]

Fosters = Piss
VB, Carlton's, XXXX (Bitter and Golden) = Real Aussie beer.

[J @ May 3rd 2007 1:03PM]

Yep, 2nd to mention it, but this will definitely power up the Benders, which confirms that Futurama is a pretty accurate portrayal of the future, maybe as much as the Simpsoms's of the present.

[adriangrab @ May 3rd 2007 3:09PM]

Fosters is about as Australian as McDonald's french fries are French. You'd have trouble finding it in a store in Australia, mostly because it's piss. They keep the good Aussie beer to themselves and sell the crap to Americans.

[Capagotks @ May 5th 2007 8:54PM]

What we need is some VB or bundy!

[Morgo @ May 6th 2007 3:08AM]

haha good luck finding an australian that drinks fosters. alot of people i know drink tooheys new or extra dry the beer that doesn't taste like piss.

[Pat @ May 6th 2007 8:16AM]

Fosters v US beers - The Foster brothers were Americans.

[Ben @ May 10th 2007 3:16PM]

Don't forget about the Northern California Brewery that has been running a Fuel Cell for awhile. http://www.sierranevada.com/environment/fuelcells.html