Researchers worked for six years, in six farms, to state the benefits of cow manure power

Oct 20, 2011 06:45 GMT  ·  By
The waste obtained from a single cow is capable to provide enough power for  2 100-watt light bulbs every day.
   The waste obtained from a single cow is capable to provide enough power for 2 100-watt light bulbs every day.

Farmers in Vermont seem to be aware that traditional ways of obtaining energy are expensive and may have damaging consequences upon the environment.

Therefore, they are trying to obtain power by exploiting other natural resources, which don't seem to be in danger of ever disappearing, in order to provide renewable energy to households.

Scientists reached the conclusion that cow manure is very efficient, cheap and perpetual compound that can be successfully used as a source of green energy.

This process is very simple and it implies significantly lower costs. Researchers developed a study for six years now, in six dairy farms, to show the benefits of cow power.

They managed to obtain 12 million kilowatt hours every year, representing clean, alternative power.

The entire process depends on methane coming from cow manure. Farmers say they rely on a safe, green technological process which does not endanger the safety of inhabitants or the environment.

Further more, it is in favor of increasing air quality, by protecting the atmosphere from unnecessary, damaging CO2 emissions.

The waste obtained from a single cow is capable to provide enough power for 2 100-watt light bulbs every day. This is great information, since one animal is able to produce 30 gallons of manure every day.

A facility with 1,000 cows is therefore able to deliver 30,000 gallons of waste on a daily basis.

Afterward, the technological process is quite simple. The manure is placed for 21 days in an anaerobic digester, where bacteria decompose the waste into methane.

At the end of the procedure, the gas obtained in this manner is filtered through a pipe network, and ends up in the natural gas engine. It’s simple, effective and earth- and budget- friendly.

So far, 4, 600 clients who appreciated the new eco-friendly plan purchased sustainable energy from the six participating facilities. Their efforts of staying green paid off, since they managed to save more than a few dollars.

Customers said that using cow power is considerably cheaper than investing in traditional forms of energy. They spent only $0.04 per kilowatt hour, or $470,000 each year.

They are now trying to expand the advantages of their findings on a national scale, by making the system based on cow power the main component of Vermont's energy network.

Both farmers and governmental organization are keen on supporting this green initiative. Households can make sure this will be a long-term, effective strategy by purchasing energy from those six farms, in order to finance the project's new objectives.

Even after researchers developed this entire list of advantages, there is still work needed in this field of activity. Farmers will need governmental support for their project.

Also, researchers state the fact that the strategy of obtaining energy from cow manure might depend on the growth of base electricity price in the near future.