After the recent climate change conference in Paris, it is clear that cities are playing an important role in reaching national targets, and beaufort cheese could be part of the answer. A small city in the Savoie region of France is using the dairy product to generate electricity. In Albertsville the fromage variety is being used in a newly opened power station to provide power to hundreds of homes.
This is possible due to methane gas-releasing whey, which is also found in natural yogurt. The liquid byproduct is being collected from a local Beaufort cheese factory and added with bacteria to fast-track the fermentation process (which is when the methane is released).
While large scale implementation is still far off, the use of cheese as green energy could be a real possibility.
Cheese-Based Power Stations
Albertsville, France is Generating Electricity From Beaufort Cheese
Trend Themes
1. Cheese-based Energy - Using cheese as a source of energy, such as the beaufort cheese in Albertsville, France, has the potential to disrupt the traditional power generation industry.
2. Methane Energy Production - Collecting methane gas from dairy byproducts like whey and using it for energy production presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the renewable energy sector.
3. Localized Green Energy - The use of cheese to generate electricity in small-scale power stations offers a localized and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources, opening opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures.
Industry Implications
1. Renewable Energy - The renewable energy industry could explore the potential of utilizing methane gas from dairy byproducts, like in the case of beaufort cheese, as an alternative energy source.
2. Cheese Production - Cheese factories and the broader dairy industry can consider turning their byproducts, such as whey, into an additional revenue stream by collecting methane gas for power generation.
3. Local Power Generation - The development of localized power stations that utilize cheese as a green energy source opens opportunities for innovation in the energy and infrastructure sectors, particularly for rural communities.