For those who love wine, and renewable energy, the University of Adelaide have combined the two.

Researchers at the university of Adelaide have found that the solid waste left over from making wine could make a competitive biofuel, with up to 400 litres of bioethanol able to be produced from one tonne of leftover grape skins.

Currently, wineries in Australia collectively produce several thousand tonnes of grape skins, which they must pay to dispose of.

Producing biuofuel using plants can be difficult due to the often complex biological structure. Grape skins are rich in the carbohydrates needed for easy fermentation into biofuel, and the yield is increased using a pre treatment of acid and enzymes. The researchers further suggest that waste leftover from this process can be used as a fertiliser of animal feed.

Solar Thermal Magazine – Biofuel from Winemaking Waste

University of Adelaide – Grape Waste Could Make Competitive Biofuel