According to Interesting Engineering, horse manure is set to have a new use as researchers find a way to generate electricity without fossil fuels.
Achieving zero emissions in the coming decades is the goal of many countries around the world. They are striving to gradually abandon coal and gas, shifting towards more environmentally friendly energy sources. However, widely recognized green energy sources like solar or wind power cannot provide a consistent supply. Instead, utilizing animal waste could be an acceptable alternative for those opposed to nuclear energy.
The energy potential of horse manure is higher.
Electricity from Manure
Most conventional methods of production use fuel to turn water into steam, which spins a turbine to generate electricity. Animal manure can be used as direct burning fuel, but researchers have discovered a more efficient method—one based on anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a process where microorganisms break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Large containers can recreate this process in a controlled manner. Certain microorganisms convert manure into methane gas, which can be used as fuel. Another method involves directly heating wet manure with air to spin a turbine.
These methods enhance the value of the livestock industry (a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions) while supporting efforts to move away from fossil fuels. Among farms that could serve as sources of manure, horse farms are particularly advantageous.
Why is Horse Manure Better?
Horses digest food much faster than cattle, taking only 72 hours to convert feed into waste. On average, a horse produces over 27 kg of waste each day.
Horse manure is drier than cow manure and richer in nutrients because horses are fed higher-quality food than cattle. Therefore, the energy potential of horse manure is greater.
Generating electricity from horse manure helps facilities that use horses manage their waste. However, the challenge is that power plants need to be located near these facilities.
In 2019, Fortum (Finland) utilized wood bedding byproducts for horses. The manure combined with bedding was then used as fuel at a power plant near the horse farm, generating 140 MWh of energy sufficient for 6,500 homes.
