Over the summer, Penn State scientists developed a microbial fuel cell in the lab that uses bacteria to desalinate waste water and generate electricity, methane, or hydrogen. Now the method is taking root in wine country.
When the Napa Wine Company heard about environmental engineering professor Bruce Logan's research, they thought the waste water from their operations could be ideal for a larger-scale experiment. Logan's impressive reactor arrived at their winery last month (video), was inoculated, and is now in the preliminary stages of hydrogen production.
"The nice thing about hydrogen is it's a very clean fuel," Logan told me. "You can put it in a fuel cell." Ultimately he thinks the hydrogen could even be used to power machinery at the winery, although for now it's simply being vented. If all goes well, imagine waste water treatment plants becoming super-efficient power plants that make commercially-processed hydrogen. Being such a fan of useful bacteria, my hope is that Logan's method opens new doors for energy production at agricultural sites. Cheers, little guys!
Photo: Professor Logan with the reactor. Credit: Courtesy of Bruce Logan.
Tags: Alternative Fuels, Alternative Power Sources, Food Sources, Fuel Cells, Green Tech,
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