Study: biogas from manure could generate energy for millions in the U.S.

Submitted By Biopact

Converting livestock manure into a domestic renewable fuel source could generate enough electricity to meet up to three per cent of North America's entire consumption needs and lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), according to a paper published today by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, in the Institute of Physics' Environmental Research Letters.

The open access paper, 'Cow Power: The Energy and Emissions Benefits of Converting Manure to Biogas', has implications for all countries with livestock as it is one the few attempts to outline a procedure for quantifying the national amount of renewable energy that herds of cattle and other livestock can generate and the concomitant GHG emission reductions.

Livestock manure, left to decompose naturally, emits two particularly potent GHGs – nitrous oxide and methane. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, nitrous oxide warms the atmosphere 310 times more than carbon dioxide, methane does so 21 times more.

The journal paper creates two hypothetical scenarios and quantifies them to compare energy savings and GHG reducing benefits. The first is 'business as usual' with coal burnt for energy and with manure left to decompose naturally. The second is one wherein manure is anaerobically-digested to create biogas and then burnt to offset coal (see schematic).

Through anaerobic digestion, similar to the process by which you create compost, manure can be turned into energy-rich biogas, which standard microturbines can use to produce electricity. The hundreds of millions of livestock inhabiting the US could produce approximately 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power millions of homes and offices:

energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: biogas :: biomethane :: manure :: anaerobic digestion :: United States ::

And, as manure left to decompose naturally has a very damaging effect on the environment, this new waste management system has a net potential GHG emissions reduction of 99 million metric tonnes, wiping out approximately four per cent of the country's GHG emissions from electricity production.

The burning of biogas would lead to the emission of some CO2 but the output from biogas-burning plants would be less than that from, for example, coal.

Authors of the paper, Dr. Michael E. Webber and Amanda D Cuellar from the University of Texas at Austin, write, "In light of the criticism that has been levelled against [liquid] biofuels, biogas production from manure has the less-controversial benefit of reusing an existing waste source and has the potential to improve the environment.

Nonetheless, the logistics of widespread biogas production, including feedstock and digestates transportation, must be determined at the local level to produce the most environmentally advantageous, economical, and energy efficient system, the study finds.

References:
Amanda D Cuéllar and Michael E Webber, "Cow power: the energy and emissions benefits of converting manure to biogas", Environ. Res. Lett. 3 (July-September 2008), doi:10.1088/1748-9326/3/3/034002

Did you like this article?

Login or register to post comments
Email this page
Reset vote
-8 points

gucci bags on sale gucci for

Submitted by whynot on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 1:19am.

gucci bags on sale gucci for sale louis vuitton handbags well sale louis vuitton free shipping gucci handbags very good louis vuitton handbags hot sale louis vuitton replica on discount louis vuitton replica handbags discount slendertone in stock slendertone flex very effcient replica louis vuitton handbags new arrive Christian Louboutin well known Christian Louboutin shoes fit comfortale gucci handbag well sale gucci on discount chanel handbags best quality chanel bags high quality chanel purses free shipping replica louis vuitton bags on sale louis vuitton bags in stock louis vuitton handbags well sale louis vuitton bags hot sale lv handbags on sale

Christian Louboutin Mary

Submitted by fuzi on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 9:23pm.

Christian Louboutin Mary Jane platforms Pink
Christian Louboutin Josefa Coffee
Christian Louboutin Rolando Hidden Platform Pump

Winter day, my father,Lace

Submitted by jiangjiang on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 7:55pm.

Winter day, my father,Lace Wigs mother and grandmother.Lace Front WigsAlong the way, Full Lace Wigs I saw was stuck in traffic. Custom Lace Wigs Mother said: "there are a lot of automotive exhaust, Beyonce Lace Wigs carbon dioxide inhalation body bad to the body, Indian Lace Wigs still can increase the body's lead, Remy Lace Wigs affect our growth." Human Hair Wigs If more than one out of the car and car exhaust, Human Wigs therefore, Straight Wigs we should protect the environment and driving less as far as possible,Wavy Wigs had better not drive, Curly Wigs to take a bus. Celebrity WigsThrough a park!Spring is near, every girl wants to be the bride in the special season.They are eager to put on beautiful Wedding Dresses or the Bridal gowns. During the day the Wedding gowns is the good choose, and the night,if you want radiant,you need the Evening gowns. About the bridesmaid,they have to wear Bridesmaid Dresses in order to avoid grab limelight with the bride.And the Flower Girl has the Flower Girl Dresses,too. In the wedding,the Cocktail Dresses and the Evening Dress is necessary,too!And remember, the Wedding Dress of the Bridal Dress must be the most glaring! mother of the bride dresses mother of the bride dresses prom dresses prom dresses brides dresses brides dresses plus size wedding dresses plus size wedding dresses bridesmaid dresses bridesmaid dresses Abercrombie And Fitch Abercrombie And Fitch
Wedding Dresses Wedding Dresses

watches replicacheap replica

Submitted by JimmyChooShoes on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 10:07pm.

watches replica
cheap replica watches
replica Oris watches
replica Maurice Lacroix watches
Louis Vuitton watch for sale

cheap fake watchesreplica

Submitted by JimmyChooShoes on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 9:23am.

cheap fake watches
replica watch
DeWitt watches
Louis Vuitton replica
replica Glashutte
A.Lange & Sohne watches
cheap marni handbags

replica Franck Mullercheap

Submitted by JimmyChooShoes on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 2:02am.

replica Franck Muller
cheap replica watches
watches replica
replica watches
Lady Watch for sale
Hublot watches
replica Rolex Submariner
omega watches

Scores of famous people have

Submitted by lihuihui on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 1:37am.

Scores of famous people have been spotted wearing Giorgio Armani sunglasses, including Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan,MiuMiu sunglasses， Britney Spears, Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe and Johnny Knoxville. Safilo is the licensed manufacturer of Hugo Boss sunglasses.

Have you ever seen the

Submitted by ewqewqRWQEWQ on Sun, 12/13/2009 - 3:43am.

Have you ever seen the movie:《Sex and the City》? Maybe you noticed sexy christian louboutin shoes . Did you remember that how Carrie is obsessed with the christian louboutin ? The shoes are not only on behalf of Life attitude,but also represent the choice of love.It is said that people can recognize christian louboutin pumps by your elegant figure out of forty steps. christian louboutin sale let you Start a pleasant shopping journey with us.

Great news awaits for S.U.N

Submitted by zxl14551 on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 2:19am.

Great news awaits for S.U.N global players Knight online Noahlike me. Upon learning the upcoming event in the Webzen's official website, I as a player would like to share this information and of course want to be a part of this treat from the game Last Chaos Goldpublisher. Players across North and South America, Australia as well as Asia will be able to brace this event on November 29 up to December 2, 2009 in Maplestory Mesosushering the new server Klippe that players can start playing S.U.N from the beginning.