So, let's talk green: Sun chilled beer

I have just returned from a creative journey from Pondicherry, with long interesting conversations with my dear friends on art, poetry, films, sustainability and spirituality. One of the topics we discussed in depth was the syndrome of the sun eaters - those who subsist by consuming solar energy from its primary source - the sun. While all of us consume solar energy through secondary sources - plants and animals that we eat, sun eaters can survive by just staring at the sun and do not eat any other food.

The discussion came up because, I had at one time aspired to become a sun eater myself, not just because I am passionate about sustainability and climate change, but because of the freedom it potentially could have given me - freedom from dependence of food to survive! Anyway, that experiment for me failed for various reasons, the primary one being that I could not get to see the rising sun in the city, thanks to all the pollution. But I am always excited when I see sustainable technologies being employed for food production, as we have collectively as a species ignored many of the fundamental principles of sustainability, which has resulted in global warming and climate change.

I enjoy a glass of chilled beer. The prospect of drinking beer produced from energy from the sun, excites me, not just because I love beer, but also because of what this could do to potentially change the way industrial production in general can be transformed.

The world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, the maker of beer brands like Corona, Budweiser, and Stella Artois, has announced it will transitioning to a 100% renewable electricity future by 2025. It has made a commitment to secure 100% of the company's purchased electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025, which works out to a total of 6 terawatt-hours of electricity annually across all its markets.

All industrial production activities rely on energy that is produced by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. This results in greenhouse gas emissions that lead to extreme climate events and climate change. If industries switch to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, it will help mitigate the effects of climate change drastically. "Climate change has profound implications for our company and for the communities where we live and work," said AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito. "Cutting back on fossil fuels is good for the environment and good for business, and we are committed to helping drive positive change. We have the opportunity to play a leading role in the battle against climate change by purchasing energy in a more sustainable way."

According to AB InBev, this new 100% renewable electricity commitment will make the company the world's largest corporate direct purchase of renewable electricity in the consumer goods sector, and should result in lowering the company's operational carbon footprint by 30% - essentially the equivalent of taking nearly 500,000 cars off the road.

Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100 at The Climate Group, said that "AB Inbev is significantly boosting demand for renewables around the world, showing just the kind of leadership we need to slow climate change and speed a low carbon economy, inspiring other companies right along the value chain." Businesses and industries are the world's greatest purchasers and users of energy, and are best positioned to lead the shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

While my aspirations to be a sun eater failed, drinking a beer made from the energy of the sun would be the closest I could come to being a sun eater, or perhaps a sun drinker…cheers to that!