Alternative ways of energy production are not new and are quite successful in some countries – solar energy, wind energy, bio fuels.

The fact that the decomposition of biomass emits flammable gases was learned in the XVII century, and in the early XIX century methane was extracted from the gas which a couple of decades later lit some streets in Britain.

It is in the UK that 34 buses have been regularly transporting passengers for the last 5 years, and cow manure is used as fuel. The buses, called Bus Hound, operate in Reading, Berkshire County. They are fast enough to travel at speeds of up to 90km/h on both urban and inter-city routes.

The biomethane needed to operate the mechanisms is obtained in the bioreactor by anaerobic digestion of manure by bacteria. In this way the gas is converted into liquefied gas and practically does not differ from compressed natural gas. Of course, it does not have any specific smell inherent to cow manure.

This processing method not only saves natural resources, but also takes care of the environment, since the methane from manure does not enter the atmosphere as greenhouse gas.

Even more unusual way of producing eco-fuel was used in the British city of Bristol a year ago. There, PooBus buses took to the streets and their fuel is made from human excrement. It has a great deal of perspective.

Source: National Geographic