DE NIHILO NIHIL?

The Antic Greeks thought that nothing comes out of nothing. In a way, they were right. However, do you consider manure to be something? Personally, I do not. Still, thanks to manure, some people in California have a cheap source of electricity.

FROM GRASS TO ELECTRICITY

Have you ever wondered how this could be possible? If you have not so far, do not even try. Here is a simple process: a cow has their favourite food, digests it in its unique stomach, relieves itself later on, and her owner cleans the mess up and takes it to a purpose built basin. ‘But where is the electricity?’ you must be asking yourselves in disbelief. Oh, do not worry, it is only morning. By the time it is night, the lights will go on. 

METHANE  

Scientists have proven that when manure decomposes, methane is produced, a green house gas twenty-five times more potent than carbon dioxide.          

The Journal of Animal Science says that ruminant animals produce between 250 and 500 liters of methane gas every day. Generally speaking, almost half of all global methane emissions come from belching livestock.

MANURE IS NOT JUST MANURE            

Imagine a container the size of five football pitches, ten metres deep, filled with liquid cow manure. This is how the new alternative source of energy in California looks like. 

Project ‘Biogas’ evolved from an idea by the experienced cattle farmer David Albers. It is being realised with the corporation PG&E. Its aim is to produce sufficient electricity for 1,200 households a day. 

"The majority of people only see manure when they look at manure. We see a chance for farmers, for electrical substations and for California,” Albers stated to Reuters.  

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL 

The manure is first put into the large basins, where it decomposes and liquefies. Afterwards it is being filtered and pumped into a huge lagoon called the ‘digest’. It is covered in layers of plastic materials so that the air, the soil and water sources are protected from pollution. In the lagoon gas is first separated and then led into a small substation where it is cleaned from hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. The end product is pure methane, which is then injected into the PG&E gas pipelines and transported to a power station in South California. 

DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE 

The light finally arrives at your home, cheap light which you can use tonight to read your favourite texts from Antic Greece, whilst sipping milk. And, please, do not worry about the planet’s future. The cows are taking care of it.

Sources:

http://knowledge.allianz.com/en/globalissues/climate_change/global_warming_basics/methane_livestock_global_warming.html

http://www.novine.ca/arhiva/2008/1144/svet.asp