The Tuscan brewery “Vapori di Birra” in Sasso Pisano produces its beers with geothermal energy. An example of how history, community and renewable sources can ferment together to create a quality, eco-friendly craft beer.
In the heart of Tuscany, beer is flavored with sustainability. In addition to water, malt, barley and hops, the brewery “Vapori di Birra” in Sasso Pisano, in the province of Pisa, uses a special ingredient in its recipe: geothermal energy.
It all started in 2013, when Edo Volpi decided to combine his passion for beer, nutraceuticals, sustainability and connection to the community to create a high-quality artisanal product, with a minimized environmental impact.
The taste of sustainability
Sasso Pisano is known for its boraciferous fumaroles, high-pressure and high-temperature vapor emissions from the ground. Not far from the brewery, you can find Enel Green Power’s historical Sasso 2 geothermal plant, remodeled in 2009 and equipped with 20 MW of installed power. Through a system of carefully studied ducts that are shared with district heating, the vapor from the plant is routed toward the brewery, which uses it for all the beer production phases that require heat.The vapor gets to the brewery at about 230° and, with a heat exchanger, is turned into water heated to 136° and inserted in a closed circuit.
It’s an important gift, which is reinvested directly into the business to improve production processes, choose the best raw materials and creating better beers, which then attract new customers. With “Vapori di birra”, it is a virtuous cycle, both environmental and economic, triggered by a renewable source like geothermal energy.
Source: Enelgreenpower.com