I’ve been always interested in renewable energy as I believe must of you are. What I think is not just a trend but a commitment to our generation to find more alternative solutions and innovative sources of clean energy. The relation between coffee and energy solutions is not new science but it is always good to stay current with research in this area. I would like to write few lines to share how coffee growers and the coffee industry in general may able to contribute to this cause.
Based on different studies 5 pounds out of 100 pounds of biomass produced in a coffee farm during a harvest season may end up in your cups of coffee. The 95% remaining bio mass are made by lost leaves, stems, unripe beans, mucilage, parchment and pulp among other by-products.
The first big by-product is pulp, which represents 43% to 44% of the collected berries in a normal harvest season. There are two big processes that may contribute to transforming this by-product into two different useful forms. The first one is a natural process using California red worm, which produce natural fertilizer that in turn helps replenish nutrients in depleted soil. The second output is a bio ethanol product based on fermentation process. Some studies suggest that 220 pounds of discarded pulp could be converted in to 1,2 liters of E85 fuel.
Another by-product is the mucilage that represents 14% to 15% of the ripe cherries. Some researchers have found that is feasible to produce biogas and bio-ethanol from it. For instance, one ton of mucilage could produce 59 liters of ethanol.
The parchment or husk discarded during the mill process is currently used as industrial fuel in construction bricks factories.
Finally, recycled coffee ground are one last piece into this puzzle. We are more aware as coffee consumers that we throw away this by product once our coffee is ready, but different studies has shown that biogas, ethanol and biodiesel can be extracted from these compounds. For instance, 10% to 15% of the discarded coffee may end up as useful biodiesel.
As resources of fossil energy become scarce we may focus on simple, environmental and financially viable solutions to keep moving our world in the right direction.
nice post.
Renewable Energy got into more focuse in this decade because everyone does not want to depend on Oil.~”
renewable energy is always the best becuause it is sustainable and does not pollute that much;`:
reneweable energy is actually the one of the major focus of most modern nations these days”".
depending on fossil fuel is always a bad idea, we should always concentrate on renewable energy –”