Space-age techniques create energy from coffee plant wastage

David Howells

05/01/2012 09:57:26

Coffee processing plants could soon lead the way in creating renewable energy, earthtechling.com reports.

A team from the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Centre (EERC) has been looking at ways of taking waste products created in coffee production and generating electricity from them.

If successful, the scheme could be rolled out worldwide, meaning that coffee lovers can not only get their caffeine fix when they fire up their espresso coffee machines, but also feel part of a renewable energy drive as they do so.

The first plant to take up the renewable energy challenge is the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters plant, which has seen not only its spent coffee residues, but also plastic packaging, paper, burlap and plastic cups turned into electric energy.

Speaking to waste-management-world.com, deputy associate director of researchers, Chris Zygarlicke, explained the study’s rather space-age origins.

“This project is an extension of work performed by the EERC for NASA, which explored the conversion of waste from a space station and future martian and lunar bases into heat and power,” he explained.

“The EERC system has already produced power by gasifying forest residues, railroad tie chips, turkey litter and other biomass feedstocks and burning the produced syngas in an on-site generator. The coffee industry residues will be similarly tested.”