Power from methane

[JeremyClarksson]

With the green debate rumbling on, I wondered if any one knew if what I describe below is still being done and if it is looked at on a larger scale.

In the early nineties I was working as a BT planner and had to visit some sewage farms - they were probably the most interesting site visits I ever had.

They were using reed beds to filter water and burning the reeds for energy, I also remember them using the methane produced by our waste to power generators.

One of the sites was a net seller of energy back to the grid at that time, although I believe it was in the experimental stages.

The overall result was that there was less product to get rid off, they were producing energy and making money.

Has anyone any more up to date info on these free sources of energy?

p.s. Before anyone says it I am not talking s**t!

 

[parker1158]

Hi Garry

As I stated on another thread I am near the end on a OU degree in natural/environmental science and although I nothing of this particular system there are similar systems being used as I type but generally in third world type countries that rely on very little in the way of energy.

The basis of the system is widely used to produce our drinking water in that reed beds or similar such things make up the initial natural filtering stage as the water leaves the reservoirs and before being mechanically treated.

The main problem with systems such as these to produce power is that they produce comparably little energy and although it appears 'free' in reality it is expensive compared with alternatives such as nuclear energy.

As ever there is a 'trade off' in energy production between environmentally friendly but expensive and very unfriendly but cheap, then there is supply and demand. Us westerners demand one hell of a lot of power and the only way this can be economically produced is via fossil fuel or nuclear stations.

The social overview on this subject is lengthy and complicated but in short us in the so called developed world like our power on tap and plenty of it, in third world countries they are happy to have power to light a 40 watt bulb for a couple of hours a day.

Alternative energy producers such as wind farms can only supply basic limited power, currently any alternative power source is subsidised with nuclear or fossil fuels. The next time you are stood next to a field of wind turbines spinning round in a 30 mile-per-hour wind it is worth remembering that they are unlikely to be producing any power because wind turbines only have a limited window of operation opportunity, to slow they produce no power and to fast they become unstable and have to be 'de-geared' to run free.

I'm not up on the financial angle of things, that's Clives domain, but basically we like cheap power and alternative sources are anything but.

 

[Angus1]

Landfill sites produce lots of methane which used to be vented to atmosphere (you`ll spot the `chimney pots` across the landfill surface).

It is now commonplace for most recently developed sites (and some going back up to 20 years) to colect the methane and burn it, generating electricity via turbines which is fed into the national grid.

This is indeed a `Good Idea` as methane is a greater ozone depleter than CO2, and the methane can be produced for decades as the waste bio-degrades.

 

[Guest]

"Human waste processing can also produce large amounts of methane if anaerobic decomposition is allowed to predominate."

With the ammounts of "human waste" coming from 3 UK parliaments and local politicians are they not failing to capitalise on their own output ;-)

 

[Angus1]

Sorry euro, but I take issue with your reference to `human waste` in mentioning UK parliaments and local politicians.

Surely in this context they should be refered to as `waste humans`?

 

[Guest]

Sounds like your singing same hymn but on a

different line ;-)

 

[Val & Frank]

With MPs, MSPs, and Assembly Members you have a double chance of energ generation,because S&*^ is coming out of both ends !!!

Val & Frank

 

[Guest]

With MPs, MSPs, and Assembly Members you have a double chance of energ generation,because S&*^ is coming out of both ends !!!

Val & Frank

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[Lord Braykewynde]

I'm self sufficient in producing my own methane, enough to power all the lights at Screwemm Hall.

 

[Guest]

Out of respect for your good self LordB I never mentioned the upper house!

But as you brought it up ;-)