Cow $h*t Could Provide 3% of North America's Energy Needs

Turning animal faeces into a fuel source could generate enough electricity to meet up to three per cent of North America's entire energy needs, scientists claim.

A study in the Institute of Physics' journal Environmental Research Letters says that fuel from livestock manure could also help to bring about a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

The research is the first attempt to quantify how much electricity can be generated by livestock manure. Left to decompose naturally, livestock manure emits two particularly potent GHGs – nitrous oxide and methane. Through anaerobic digestion, similar to the process by which compost is created, 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.

"In light of the criticism that has been levelled against biofuels, biogas production from manure has the less controversial benefit of re-using an existing waste source and has the potential to improve the environment."
Dr Michael Webber and Amanda Cuellar, University of Texas, Austin