Interactive Graphic
Fertile field for energy
Unlike previous generations of manure digesters, a new system can process waste in a swift pass-through, alleviating some of the problems of older systems such as heavy sedimentation and festering lagoons. Byproducts include compost and methane gas, which can be burned to produce electricity.
150 pounds: Manure from each dairy cow daily 8.9 kilowatt-hours: Electricity produced daily, per cow
Transformation
The uses
Transformation
Waste circulates through bunker-like chambers and is converted to methane. The methane fuels combustion generators to produce electricity.
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Collection
Manure is collected and fed into the digester. |
Processing
The process uses an anaerobic digester system in which organic matter is decomposed by microbes in the absence of air. |
The uses
The process yields electricity or natural gas, plus fertilizer byproducts.
