People Poo Power In The UK

Posted by Big Gav in biogas

Inhabitat has a post on plans to expand biogas production in the UK - UK Prepares to Use Human Poop to Power Homes.

In some parts of the UK anaerobic digesters are already being used to generate electricity from human refuse, but this summer British Gas in a partnership with Thames Water and Scotia Gas Networks will start piping biomethane from the sewage system — which is derived from fecal matter — right back into the homes of 130 customers in Didcot in Oxfordshire. The new gas will take 23 days to complete its waste treatment cycle and when it enters homes will smell just like natural gas.

Using human waste for power is not a new idea. Marco Polo noticed that the Chinese used enclosed sewage tanks to generate power and bath water was said to be heated with biogas in Assyria in the 10th century BC. With populations on the rise and the issue of what to do with sewage becoming an ever present problem, why not bring it back around to electrify our houses? It’s completely renewable — as long as we keep eating — and could be a big part of the no waste holy grail.

1 comments

Anonymous says 4:46 PM

Hi mate,
have you read anywhere about the quantities of fertiliser we would get from this, and what proportion of the world's agriculture can be supported off our sewerage?

Cheers.