Manure
- An important energy source
Because
of the growing demand for energy, it is increasingly important to use energetic
potential as efficiently as possible. Manure is mostly regarded as a waste
product. But digestion of manure on dairy farms not only replaces fossil fuels,
but also lowers harmful CH4-emissions, which are 21 times more harmful than CO2
emissions. Thus playing a not be underestimated part in protecting the
environment.
According
to the Energy Information Administration, an average California household consumed 10 million Btu
of natural gas in 2000. Manure on a 3.000 cow dairy operation has enough
energetic potential to replace natural gas consumption of approximately 860
households or enough energy to replace motor gasoline consumption of
approximately 230 California
households.
In other words, 4 cows could provide enough energy to replace natural
gas of one California household or 13 cows
provide enough energy to replace motor gasoline consumption of one California household.
Considering that there are more than 1.8 million milk cows in California,
energetic use of their manure provides a considerable contribution to reach California's renewable
energy goals.
Energy
Crops - Biogas gets the most energy from 1 acre of land
Because
of the growing demand for agricultural products, it is increasingly important
to use one of our precious resources, farmland, as efficiently as possible so
that we can not only produce enough food, but also help save the environment.
In European countries where government aid is directed more towards biogas,
using energy-rich, but more expensive substrates such as corn silage are
widespread. It is the goal to get as much energy as possible out of 1 acre of
farmland.
According
to the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR), in 2007 Germany used around 5 million acres
(17% of the available farmland) to grow crops for renewable energy
purposes. Canola alone, which are used
to make bio diesel, will be grown on half of this land.
A
comparison of the different bio-fuels shows how different the amount of netted
energy can be. With bio methane produced
from one acre of land, a car with just average fuel efficiency can drive 17,000
miles.
That is the equivalent of 535 gal (2,025 L) of fossil fuels. Bio diesel from rapeseed or ethanol from corn
can only go 1/3 the distance from the same amount of land.
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