The Potential of Waste-to-Energy Conversion for Sustainable Development
The next breakthrough in renewable energy might be poop.
Introduction
New scientific techniques pioneered at Brigham Young University (BYU) point to the potential of converting animal and human waste into energy that can be used to replace natural gas from fossil fuels. This development aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
The Advancements in Waste-to-Energy Conversion
Turning excrement into energy isn’t a new idea. Civilizations have used anaerobic digestion for centuries. However, the methods BYU scientists Jaron Hansen and Zach Aanderud have studied for more than a decade represent a significant step forward in making waste a viable energy producer on a larger scale.
The key to their work is a special cocktail of bacteria that thrive in extreme conditions — no oxygen, temperatures north of 170 degrees — and are pros at breaking down waste into smaller molecules. So bacteria that might have spent life digesting a log in a Russian hot spring can now be put to work eating up manure in a giant tank at a dairy farm.
“We are harnessing the power of the small things that you can’t see in the world … to really help us solve a couple of big problems,” Aanderud, a professor of microbial ecology, said.
Tackling Fossil Fuel Transition and Waste Disposal
The two daunting challenges this breakthrough could help tackle are transitioning away from fossil fuels and disposing of the massive amounts of waste humans and animals produce. One dairy cow can produce 100 pounds of manure each day, and large dairies can hold more than 10,000 cows at a time. This process could turn that waste from an environmental threat to a powerful potential energy source.
“We’re talking about generating enough gas to power small communities,” said Hansen, who chairs BYU’s chemistry department. “We’re talking hundreds of kilowatts worth of power.”
Improved Efficiency and Environmental Impact
Historically, anaerobic digestion at a dairy farm may only be able to turn 40% of the cows’ waste into energy. Pretreating with this bacteria bumped that efficiency level to 80% and reduced the amount of leftover waste that had to be sent to farms or landfills. Additionally, the process is faster, taking less than a week instead of a month to extract energy from waste.
The process captures the methane produced by the digestion, burns it to produce energy, and emits carbon dioxide. If the waste sits in a landfill or a farm’s poop lagoon, more of that methane — a gas that’s 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide for trapping heat — would likely end up in the atmosphere, further accelerating climate change.
Utilizing Existing Infrastructure
The process also utilizes existing infrastructure — natural gas lines into homes that feed furnaces, water heaters, and stoves — to replace a widely used fossil fuel with something more renewable that doesn’t require drilling. While it may not be a zero-emission solution like solar or wind, it can be a good option to supplement those energy sources at night or on a still day.
Real-World Applications and Future Potential
Hansen and Aanderude’s work has already found its way into real-world applications on dairy farms in Wisconsin and Indiana. Larry Buckle, with Trinity Renewables in California, engineered the Wisconsin pilot project using this new bacteria process. He said it reduced digestion time from 20 days to three days while increasing energy production by 50%. Plans are underway to build a larger version of the pilot facility at the same farm that will process 150,000 gallons of manure a day.
This digestive process can also produce energy from other types of waste, such as food waste and grass clippings. It has been successfully tested at municipal wastewater plants across the United States, with significant reductions in leftover waste and increased energy production.
These advancements have the potential to revolutionize the municipal anaerobic digestion industry worldwide. Water treatment facilities, which are often a municipal government’s biggest energy consumer, can benefit greatly from this technology. By utilizing waste-to-energy conversion, these facilities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become self-sufficient in terms of energy production.
Conclusion
The breakthrough in waste-to-energy conversion represents a significant step towards achieving the SDGs. By harnessing the power of bacteria to convert waste into renewable energy, we can address the challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels and managing waste disposal. This technology has the potential to provide sustainable energy solutions for communities and reduce the environmental impact of waste. As more real-world applications are developed and implemented, the world will witness the transformative power of waste-to-energy conversion.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | – Percentage of energy generated from renewable sources – Amount of natural gas replaced by renewable energy |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable | – Number of infrastructure upgrades implemented for sustainable energy production – Number of industries adopting sustainable waste management practices |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse | – Amount of waste reduced through anaerobic digestion – Percentage of waste diverted from landfills through waste-to-energy processes |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | – Reduction in methane emissions from waste through anaerobic digestion – Amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced through the use of renewable energy |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
This SDG is addressed because the article discusses the potential of converting animal and human waste into renewable energy to replace natural gas from fossil fuels.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
This SDG is connected because the article highlights the innovative techniques developed by scientists to convert waste into energy, which can contribute to sustainable infrastructure and industries.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
This SDG is connected because the article emphasizes the reduction of waste through anaerobic digestion, promoting responsible consumption and production practices.
SDG 13: Climate Action
This SDG is connected because the article discusses how the process of converting waste into energy can help reduce methane emissions, which contribute to climate change.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
The article highlights the potential of converting waste into renewable energy, which can contribute to increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
The article mentions the use of existing infrastructure, such as natural gas lines, to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, indicating the potential for upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries for sustainability.
Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse
The article discusses how anaerobic digestion can reduce waste generation by converting it into energy, aligning with the target to substantially reduce waste through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
The article highlights the potential of waste-to-energy processes to reduce methane emissions and carbon dioxide emissions, indicating the integration of climate change measures into waste management policies and strategies.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article provides indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Percentage of energy generated from renewable sources: This indicator can measure progress towards increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (Target 7.2).
– Amount of natural gas replaced by renewable energy: This indicator can measure progress towards increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels (Target 7.2).
– Number of infrastructure upgrades implemented for sustainable energy production: This indicator can measure progress towards upgrading infrastructure for sustainable energy production (Target 9.4).
– Number of industries adopting sustainable waste management practices: This indicator can measure progress towards retrofitting industries for sustainable waste management (Target 9.4).
– Amount of waste reduced through anaerobic digestion: This indicator can measure progress towards reducing waste generation (Target 12.5).
– Percentage of waste diverted from landfills through waste-to-energy processes: This indicator can measure progress towards reducing waste generation and promoting waste-to-energy practices (Target 12.5).
– Reduction in methane emissions from waste through anaerobic digestion: This indicator can measure progress towards reducing methane emissions and mitigating climate change (Target 13.2).
– Amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced through the use of renewable energy: This indicator can measure progress towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions and mitigating climate change (Target 13.2).
Overall, these indicators can be used to track the progress made in achieving the identified targets.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | – Percentage of energy generated from renewable sources – Amount of natural gas replaced by renewable energy |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable | – Number of infrastructure upgrades implemented for sustainable energy production – Number of industries adopting sustainable waste management practices |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse | – Amount of waste reduced through anaerobic digestion – Percentage of waste diverted from landfills through waste-to-energy processes |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | – Reduction in methane emissions from waste through anaerobic digestion – Amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced through the use of renewable energy |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: kuer.org
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