Can chicken litter and pig manure be part of our energy salvation?
(We were not ble to find a vdeo about the Cirencester project dsecribed in this article, but here is an example in the Netherlands.)
That's not just a rhetorical question, either. Many people know the energy transition is looming and energy salvation is energy salvation. Keep in mind what energy salvation is: It's not when Rush and Al can do their thing whenever they want. No, it's when we working stiffs have energy to at least run a refrigerator and power a vehicle and maybe a few things more.
If that doesn't sound like much, the day is coming when many would be pretty darn happy if they could just get that. And they won't.
But some people understand this and are trying. I read where in the United Kingdom, a new biogas power station is showing how to operate using locally produced energy.
Many of our friends in the English town of Cirencester are in the process of building a biogas power station powered by agriculture biomass. This will include pig manure and chicken litter. Many of you who were raised near those animals know how potent those commodities are. I shoveled a lot many, many years ago and I'm not sure I have it washed off yet. Potent? You bet! local residents will certainly benefit from this low cost alternative to coal, foreign gas, and even oil.
This is one of the first towns I know of to take advantage of these products. These good people will have energy security when most others do not.
The people living locally are going to use an anaerobic digester. They will put into the digester corn, wheat, and grass. Added to that will be the animal wastes. This is expected to supply three hundred and fifty houses with electric energy.
If you think it through, this makes a lot of sense, Economic sense, and also social. The local farmers will make more money off their waste, and local jobs will be created. On a purely local level, it should also lower the cost of food. And make the supply more stable.
One of the big benefits of this process is the smell. Anyone out there remember the pungent smell of pig manure and chicken litter? The plant will extract the smell from the waste and burn it. Leftovers from the plant can be used in the farming sector.
A real win win for all these enterprising people.
Before I go off, let me take just a minute to discuss Anaerobic digestion. The process has been a great success in Europe. I read where there are currently more than five thousand plants across northern Europe.
Anaerobic digestion happens where organic material decomposes and it then releases methane and other gasses.
The methane (called biogas by this time in the process) is burned in a generator and used to produce electricity. The leftover material is a great fertilizer and is spread out on the land.
I understand that only normal farming practices and equipment is used. Nothing new for them to invest in.
In addition to the chicken and pig material, they can also use the leavings from horses, turkeys, cows, etc. Anyone who grew up on the prairie knows how well "cow patties" burn.
Heat and Power. From electrical generation. That's what it's all about.
Energy transition is looming. Don't let your family be left out.?
I know that a lot of you don't believe this. Fine.
Hide and watch.
Jimmy writes a home power generation review web site. He is interested in what works and what scams are out there.
Write him with your thoughts and observations at: greenjim@juno.com
See his review web site at: http://homepowergeneration.info
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