Scheduled for completion in early 2011, this renewable energy plant is designed to enable the brewery to reduce its carbon emissions by over 500 metric tons per year, while also eliminating 85% of the treatable waste components in the brewery’s wastewater.
Using a anaerobic digestion, the new facility will enable Spoetzl to convert the waste products from its brewing processes into naturally produced methane gas, which will be used to fuel the boilers that create steam and hot water needed for beer production.
As a result, Spoetzl should be able to reduce its natural gas consumption by over 95,000 therms per year, in addition to reducing carbon emissions. And by eliminating most of the treatable waste components in the wastewater, this process is expected to reduce the amount of electrical energy required for processing at the city wastewater treatment plant.
This new renewable energy and waste treatment plant represents the latest step in Spoetzl’s drive to reduce the overall environmental impact of its brewing operations.
Jaime Jurado, director of brewing operations at Spoetzl Brewery, said: ”This new biogas generation and waste treatment facility is a win-win commitment for Spoetzl and the Shiner community.
”In addition to further reducing our energy consumption and carbon emissions, it eliminates much of the waste from the wastewater right at our facility, reducing the town’s energy burden on the municipal wastewater treatment facility and at the same time feeding biogas to our biogas-compatible boiler.”
