Eco Factor: Fuel-cell power plant converts methane gas into electricity.
FuelCell Energy Inc., Danbury-based maker of high-efficiency, ultra-clean electricity plants using renewable and other fuels has succeeded in developing a way to extract power from chicken droppings. The company has recently sold its 1.4-megawatt fuel-cell power plant that is capable of convert chicken manure into usable energy to G3 Power Systems Inc.
Being installed at Olivera Egg Ranch LLC in French Camp, Calif, the power plant is expected to be in operation by mid-2011. The anaerobic digester that will process chicken dropping will generate methane gas as a waste by-product, which will then be used as fuel to generate enough electricity to meet all of the Ranch’s power needs.
This power plant is first of several initiatives by FuelCell to convert animal waste into clean energy. The company sees this new fuel-cell power plant as its first step towards the goal of develop numerous power plants for converting animal waste into power.
Via: ctpost
