Beer-based biofuel to power Kiwi cars

New Zealand brewery DB Export has used the by-product of beer to produce a commercially available biofuel, which is now available at Gull service stations across the North Island.

The biofuel is the result of research and testing by DB Export and independent experts which found that ethanol could be stripped from the yeast slurry of the brewing process and distilled to produce high-grade bioethanol, created by blending 10% ethanol and 90% premium 98 octane petrol. The final product — DB Export Brewtroleum — is said to emit 8% less carbon than traditional petroleum while delivering equal performance.

The biofuel will be made available for a limited time through Gull New Zealand, which has been making biofuels since 2007. The company’s general manager, David Bodger, said Gull is “excited to help Kiwi motorists make a unique and environmentally friendly choice via dedicated DB Export Brewtroleum pumps at our petrol stations”.

DB Export has so far produced 300,000 litres of the biofuel, which is expected to last approximately six weeks. The brewery’s head of domestic beer marketing, Sean O’Donnell, said the company would “love to see DB Export Brewtroleum become a long-term offering; it’s a case of testing consumer demand and assessing the feasibility of ongoing production and logistics”.