A Blenheim man’s invention takes wineries one step closer to going off-grid.
Kevin Parker, of Blenheim company Vine Gas Ltd, has invented an engine with an inbuilt distillation column which produces and is fuelled by ethanol made from winemaking waste.
Heat from the engine is captured and used to drive the distillation of ethanol from grape-skin pulp. The engine could power a compressor which could be used to drive refrigeration, the biggest energy user in a winery, Mr Parker said.