After making french fries, grease powers kitchen lights

Everyone knows that cooking oil can be used as a source of fuel, but most folks think of that as something only done by hardcore do-it-yourselfers willing to tinker forever in the garage. If Owl Power Company has its way, that image is going to change, starting in commercial kitchens across America.

The Massachusetts company recently announced its Vegawatt, a user-friendly product with which restaurants can generate between 10 and 25% of their electricity and hot water with used oil from deep fryers.

Traditionally, restaurateurs have had to pay companies to haul away used grease; those of us who had high-school jobs in the fast food industry likely remember the stench of the dumpster-like receptacles in which that waste awaited pickup. Recently, some companies have reversed the equation, paying restaurants up to 25 cents a gallon for newly valuable grease — but the Vegawatt eliminates the middle-man entirely, delivering an energy value that its makers estimate at $2.55 per gallon.

The self-contained unit requires no maintenance from kitchen staff, needs no additional ingredients beyond the grease itself, and produces no liquid byproducts. It’s about the size of a fridge and is located outside the building, much like a central air conditioner. In a recent announcement, the company touted the positive experiences of local business Finz Seafood & Grill, which has been using a Vegawatt for about a month now.

Owl Power quotes Finz owner George Carey, their first customer, saying, “As a restaurant operator I am constantly looking … for costs-saving measures. My largest line-item expense is runaway utility costs. The Vegawatt™ system enables me to significantly reduce my energy costs, generate clean energy on-site, and very importantly, reduce the heavy energy footprint of my restaurant.”

The device is currently offered in a five-year lease plan costing $435 per month, roughly half the amount the company estimates the average restaurant will save in energy costs.

Please Share and Enjoy: