TV Schedule

Cow power could generate electricity for millions, US study shows

  2. goldenways
  3. related topics
Cow manure could be used to generate power for millions, according to a new US study.

Scientists have calculated for the first time how much of a country's electricity needs could be provided from the manure of cattle and other livestock.

They estimate that 3 per cent of America's total electricity demand could be created from animal waste, enough to power millions of homes and businesses.

Using manure for power could also lead to a significant reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases created, they say.

The study, by scientists at the University of Texas, is published in the Institute of Physics' Environmental Research Letters journal.

Broken down and then burnt, the scientists estimate that the manure from hundreds of millions of livestock in America could produce approximately 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

If left to decompose naturally manure releases noxious gases into the environment, some of which warm the atmosphere at a higher rate than carbon dioxide.

Converting it to power could reduce those emissions by 99 million metric tonnes, the equivalent of approximately four per cent of America's emissions from electricity production.

Although the process would emit some carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, it would do so at a lower rate than if coal was used.

Dr Michael Webber and Amanda D Cuellar, who carried out the study, claim that widespread use of manure for energy could reuse "an existing waste source and has the potential to improve the environment".
goldenways

35 responses // Cow power could generate electricity for millions, US study shows

  • Hmmm... I'd rather use it to help compost the midwest, and use an energy source that gives off NO carbon dioxide. GO SOLAR!! GO WIND!!!
    shelchak
  • The thing about this is that it's in support of the meat industry. It's an improvement to the environment in the sense that we're destroying it and covering our tracks by reducing the rate at which we destroy it.
    handshakeheartbreak
  • It follows that since there are plenty of us omnivores that think bovine protein is tasty, we might as well reduce the carbon footprint. Good thought shelchak. O.K., time for all you veagens to dine on my carcus.
    bluestranger
  • Sounds like a plan to me. We should look for things we could be recycling in other industries, too.
    Allsunday
  • Yeah, since red meat eaters aren't going stop their disgusting eating habits, (sadly) this is an option...

    I say GO VEG! then use solar/wind/algae oil/etc instead, but alas, it's not a perfect world.
    onechance
    11 responses to this
  • I would rather use solar power
    Bren589
    2 responses to this
  • If they could do this with cows then they should do it with human waste as well! Better than contaminating the fishes with our defecation.
    vitalmaggi
    2 responses to this
  • Reminds me of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • The process is called anaerobic manure digestion and it does more then just create a cleaner energy source. After all the methane is extracted from the manure you can then use it as fertilizer. As an added bonus this organic fertilizer requires only a small amount of herbicide since most of the seeds and plant matter decomposes in the methane extraction process.

    So when you use this technology you can not only generate your own power but you minimize the chance of none source pollutants. Another benefit from this system is that you now have a sustainable method for producing food for your livestock. When the extracted methane is burned you can collect the co2 and use it to produce algae cakes for food.

    Algae cakes are incredibly nutritious and easier for cows are other livestock to eat. Algae can also be used to create bio diesels and oil to run and maintain farm equipment. All of this technology is available and being perfected at his moment. Handshake I can assure you none of the scientists involved in this process are trying to sweep our environmental problems under the rug.
    Ricky84
  • While many may think that harnessing energy from manuer would be gross, we have reached a point in time in which we need to encourage and implement many more potential solutions to our growing energy and economic crises.
    NFUSA
  • will vegans fall for this??
    shadowtrekker
  • I am not a fan of genetically engineered food no matter how good it sounds. Ten years from now we will learn why this was not such a good idea.
    MeganMcKenzie
  • The manure is kind of helpful when it comes to growing more food though isn't it?
    constantdisregard
  • Sell manure stock now, the prices are going to skyrocket with increased demand.
    Egnatius212
  • Go Poo Power!
    Bigdog_mike
  • awsome
    iah
    • iah
    • 2 months ago
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtoPJD1XdRU
    Seems like this kind of energy is not efficient enough and not cheap to produce. I would rather go with hemp oil.
    mundosanto
    1 response to this
  • Let's Mooooove along on this and get it going!
    WorldPeaceTV
  • mad max 2
    passjay
  • Yeah, this technology is big in Tulare County, just south of Fresno County, in California. Since there are more dairies there than anywhere else, dairymen are taking advantage of it.
    rasting

Add your response

Login/Registration is required to add a response.