After being thoroughly used in the deep fryer, waste vegetable oil (WVO) has traditionally been disposed of in landfills or wastewater treatment plants. Microbes then digest the oils and release methane and CO2. In diverting this fuel source from the landfill and making use of used cooking oil to produce electricity, the same amount of CO2 is created. However, it is possible to harvest a significant amount of useful energy instead of throwing it away!

The Vegawatt power system is a fully automated power generation equipment that uses your WVO. Is system located outside your restaurant's back door and requires no intervention or maintenance by restaurant staff, no additional chemicals, and produces no liquid byproducts. 
The refrigerator-sized units are incorporated into a building's existing system in the same way as a solar panel is retrofitted. After filtering a restaurant's used vegetable oil, the unit combusts the refined fuel in a diesel engine, feeding electricity and hot water straight into a restaurant's system. The units won't provide all the power and electricity that a business needs, but can significantly improve its carbon footprint and running costs, as a unit typically provides 10-25% of electricity requirements.

Leasing the system for five years costs USD 435 per month, with potential fuel savings calculated at USD 850 per month. Alternatively, the system can be purchased for USD 22,000 outright, paying for itself within three years, according to the company And that's without taking governmental incentives and rebates into account. Businesses further benefit by not having to pay or arrange for used oil to be removed, and also receive credits towards LEED certification. Last but not least, there's the reputation boost gleaned from going green.  The device was developed by the Owl Power Company, a clean energy system company based in Massachusetts.

The main benefits according to the company are:

• Save over $800 every month off your utility bills!
• Produce Free electricity onsite
• Produce Free hot water onsite
• Save on Waste Vegetable Oil disposal fees
• Reduce your Electricity Demand charges
• Produce Renewable Energy Credits (REC's)
• Produce Carbon Credits
• Produce Income Tax Credits
• Reduce the CO2 emissions of your restaurant
• Reduce the dependence on fossil fuels
• Save the Planet

If you own a restaurant of food shop, it's worth your attention. You never again need to worry about an overflowing oil barrel, a missed pickup, or the mess associated with oil storage ever again.