Mexicans making fuel from agave waste

(Illustration) The Mexican company Herradura, a famous tequila producer, plans to turn thousands of tons of waste left over from blue agave during the process of producing the alcoholic drink, into biomass, thereby reducing expenditures for energy.

The head of the company, Guillermo Rodelo, claims that, by drying 150 tons of agave's fibrous waste, generated daily, and turning it into biomass for huge boilers used in the facilities, 30% of the company's energy needs could be met, Reuters reports.

– We’re trying to reduce our environmental impact and have sustainable processes – Rodelo said.

Although it's not easy to find the machinery for drying and processing large amounts of waste is not easy, Rodelo claims that the company, which is the second biggest Mexican tequila producer, after Jose Cuervo, should acquire the system in a year.

Just like the French champagne, the blue agave tequila has a geographic indication of origin and can be produced in only five Mexican states – Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas.

Herradura

blue agave

tequila

biomass

fuel production from agave

Guillermo Rodelo