Electric Power From Cows?

By Roland Piquepaille

Using cow waste to produce electricity has been done before, for example by using the methane released by this waste to power farm machinery. But now, researchers from Ohio State University (OSU) have found new ways to turn cow waste into elctricity. First, using a half-liter of fluid from the rumen -- the girst and largest chamber of a cow's stomach -- they were able to produce about 600 millivolts of electricity, or half the voltage needed to run a rechargeable AA battery. Then, they used real cow manure to power microbial fuel cells which produced between 300 and 400 millivolts of power. Even if it's too early to know if this electric cow power can be increased to higher levels, the researchers hope that one day farmers will be able to generate enough power for their farms. Read more on ZDNet's Emerging Technology Trends.

Sources: Holly Wagner, Ohio State University, August 31, 2005; and various web sites

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