Japan builds power plant using fermented gas fuel from cow dung

The world is facing a global energy crisis, and there doesn't seem to be much we can do about it. Still, there is hope, albeit rather bold and odd.

In an effort to get the most out of farm waste, a Canadian company decided to go for the stinkiest thing you can think of. Exactly, you get what I mean!

This cow manure plant eliminates 13,500 tons of emissions, which is equivalent to reducing the operation of 2900 cars a year.

Anaergia, a global company dedicated to providing clean energy solutions using organic waste, will build a biogas plant using cow manure to produce renewable electricity. This factory will be built in Kasoka, Okayama, Japan, with the investor being Japanese company Toyo Energy Solution.

This cow manure plant is expected to help remove about 13,500 tons of CO2 emissions from manure and fossil fuels, equivalent to reducing the operation of 2,900 cars a year.

'Waste, such as faeces, sewage biosolids, and leftovers, account for two-thirds of all emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas 85 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide. Stopping those emissions must be seen as a central strategy in limiting global warming,' said Andrew Benedek, President and CEO of Anaergia. "The new bioenergy plant will not only help Japan reduce methane emissions from manure, but also help reduce the need for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in electricity generation. We hope to build more factories in Japan with our partner Toyo Energy Solution Co., Ltd. to help this country meet its carbon reduction targets'

250 tons of manure per day to generate electricity for 2,200 households per year

250 tons of anaerobic cow manure per day from farms in Okayama Perfecture will be used as fermentation gas, helping to operate a system of cogeneration generators (combined thermal power, abbreviated CHP). Once fuel is introduced into the system, it will generate about 1.2 megawatts of renewable clean electricity. This amount of electricity is enough to serve about 2,200 households each year.

"Toyo Group is delighted to partner again with Anaergia to develop a new biogas plant, as they are the world leader in anaerobic incubation technology," said Yoshimitsu Okada, President of Toyo Group. 'We hope to build more biogas plants with Anaergia, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, produce renewable energy, and help Japan achieve its zero-emissions target by 2050'.