Poop power might be the future of energy. Yes, for real, this is a seriously real thing. There are companies out there that are manufacturing poop charcoal which is then used to to create power and ever to cook. And Colorado is even considering options on how to turn human waste (methane) into fuel to produce renewable and sustainable energy. I first saw this poop-fuel trend in a video produced by the New York Post about a company in Kenya who are manufacturing charcoal briquettes from human waste and using it as cooking fuel. Yes, you read that right, grilling food with poop. Well technically, it’s no longer poop because they process it to such a degree that it removes all the nasty stuff and leaves behind a flammable biomass material which can then be burned in a charcoal grill and used to cook.
Here’s the video:
Isn’t that interesting? I mean, at first glance it seems kind of disgusting, and it is, sort of. But once you really think about it and how it works it makes perfect sense. In fact it’s one of those “Why didn’t I think of that!?” ideas.
Watch this video to:
Being a man of science and technology this of course gave me an idea. If you can burn it you can use it to produce energy! Energy which can then be used to power homes and businesses and entire cities.
THIS IS FREAKING GENIUS!!!
Seriously, think about this. We’re killing two birds with one stone here. By using human waste as a fuel source (almost an unlimited fuel source; because everyone is so full of…well, you get the point.). We’re removing a huge burden and cost of sanitation and processing millions of tons of human waste annually while also creating energy which can then be used to power cities and towns. It’s a true WIN/WIN!
An human waste doesn’t just produce biomass which can be burned, it also produces methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas and it’s better to get rid of it by burning it off than releasing it into the atmosphere. Better to actually use it to produce energy to power entire cities.
From Poop To Power: Colorado Explores New Sources Of Renewable Energy – NPR
PBS also did an article on the viability of methane extraction and use in creating energy.
Turning Poop Into Power, Not Pollution – PBS
Inhabitat also did an article on turning Turkey poop into an alternative to coal for use in producing energy.
Turkey poop could offer a potent alternative to coal – Inhabitat
If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that the world is full of sh*t, so we might as well use it for a good thing.
Like clean renewable sustainable energy!
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