Alternative energy sources that can not be ignored: animal waste

Make the best use of animal waste of resources available in North America 3% of the electricity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

 In recent years, with the worsening of the problem of global warming and the continuously rising international oil prices, people have begun to actively seek more environmentally friendly alternative energy sources. Among them, the subject of much attention, including renewable energy, solar energy,  hydro-electric power, wind power, tidal energy and biomass energy. In July of Environ. Res. Lett. Journals, the United States for the first time, scientists will convert animal waste into energy (methane gas) and its impact on the way to changes in greenhouse gases comprehensive assessment. 

 In the United States, animal husbandry for more than a year can generate hundreds of millions of tons of animal waste. Large number of waste disposed of at the outdoor ponds to handle, resulting in an ideal anaerobic environment. In the absence of oxygen, the anaerobic bacteria to decompose organic matter associated pool of methane generated (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. In addition, the excretion of nitrogen element, will be a series of reaction, another greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O). 

 The study is to analyze the main methods of animal husbandry in North America statistics, the data and then converted into a potential biomass energy (methane), carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. After evaluation of different management conditions on the environment and the impact of renewable energy, the scientists pointed out that if the anaerobic type of digestive system (Anaerobic Digestion) confined the process of treatment, animal waste will be effectively break down and generate methane gas available, the Health precursor gases can be about 3 percent of the nation's supply of electricity. At the same time, if the alternative to coal power generation in this way, the nation's greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to about 4 percent. 

 Summing up, the effective management and utilization of animal husbandry and animal waste emissions, in addition to produce significant renewable energy, but also alleviate the burden of global warming. This method is worthy of people's in-depth study and explore.