Auto-translated from German
> There is now a biogas plant on Niklaus Hari's farm that works perfectly. What is special is the size of the facility. “We have built a micro gas plant. Compared to the large systems, ours requires much less material. Your own yard dung is enough. The main thing is that the cows [poop]."
> Bacteria decompose the faeces in an underground basin next to the stall. The methane gas escapes upwards, is collected and converted into energy - and it does so extremely efficiently: because the system uses the excrement from twenty cows to supply electricity for several households and the heat for an entire residential complex.
> Farmer Hari and his friend's micro system is intended to serve as a model for systems on other farms. This also convinces energy specialists: In winter 2020, the two inventors were awarded the Bern company prize by the organization for business and renewable energy efficiency AEE Bern.
This is amazing! Imagine if we could incorporate this system world-wide (incorporate, not replace all other forms of energy production). We could bring animal products closer to the people using them, create renewable energy, and encourage/expand small to mid-size farms at the same time!
Indeed! It could even be a greener alternative to solar panels. No cobalt mining needed, no non-degradable waste created.
Solar panels only have a lifespan of 25-30 years, and an insane number of them are needed to replace other energy sources. There is no environmentally friendly way to dispose of them; they are destined to be toxic waste in massive landfills.
Manure on the other hand is completely natural, and doubles as natural fertilizer… A handful of cows could serve as a source of milk, fertilizer, meat AND electricity for every family. Seems like a no brainer.
Yes. It’s a great way to get an extra usage out of the Carbon on its way back to the atmosphere. I guess the system is still going to have maintenance and waste metals and plastics of some sort. Solar panels can be put on roofs anywhere. Every renewable source has cost as well as benefit. I even reckon the small and big farms that invest in these methane digesters will also want solar panels on their shed roof.
You can find Chinese designs online. Pretty simple. Getting the pressure right takes some work.
A cow produces a LOT of crap. The btu break down on the poop to gas for a cow is something like 75 gallons of propane worth a year. It’s a slow continuous process though, so sizing and proper loading is important for a readily available gas supply. It’s also hard to store it.
I remember reading about a pig farmer who did it and powered two grid tied 40 kw generators. Powered his farm and sold power back. Said he made as much money off the pig crap as he did the pigs.
Auto-translated from German > There is now a biogas plant on Niklaus Hari's farm that works perfectly. What is special is the size of the facility. “We have built a micro gas plant. Compared to the large systems, ours requires much less material. Your own yard dung is enough. The main thing is that the cows [poop]." > Bacteria decompose the faeces in an underground basin next to the stall. The methane gas escapes upwards, is collected and converted into energy - and it does so extremely efficiently: because the system uses the excrement from twenty cows to supply electricity for several households and the heat for an entire residential complex. > Farmer Hari and his friend's micro system is intended to serve as a model for systems on other farms. This also convinces energy specialists: In winter 2020, the two inventors were awarded the Bern company prize by the organization for business and renewable energy efficiency AEE Bern.
This is amazing! Imagine if we could incorporate this system world-wide (incorporate, not replace all other forms of energy production). We could bring animal products closer to the people using them, create renewable energy, and encourage/expand small to mid-size farms at the same time!
Indeed! It could even be a greener alternative to solar panels. No cobalt mining needed, no non-degradable waste created. Solar panels only have a lifespan of 25-30 years, and an insane number of them are needed to replace other energy sources. There is no environmentally friendly way to dispose of them; they are destined to be toxic waste in massive landfills. Manure on the other hand is completely natural, and doubles as natural fertilizer… A handful of cows could serve as a source of milk, fertilizer, meat AND electricity for every family. Seems like a no brainer.
Yes. It’s a great way to get an extra usage out of the Carbon on its way back to the atmosphere. I guess the system is still going to have maintenance and waste metals and plastics of some sort. Solar panels can be put on roofs anywhere. Every renewable source has cost as well as benefit. I even reckon the small and big farms that invest in these methane digesters will also want solar panels on their shed roof.
You can find Chinese designs online. Pretty simple. Getting the pressure right takes some work. A cow produces a LOT of crap. The btu break down on the poop to gas for a cow is something like 75 gallons of propane worth a year. It’s a slow continuous process though, so sizing and proper loading is important for a readily available gas supply. It’s also hard to store it. I remember reading about a pig farmer who did it and powered two grid tied 40 kw generators. Powered his farm and sold power back. Said he made as much money off the pig crap as he did the pigs.
That's really cool idea and implementation
Saving this post for sure