What used to be a problematic waste is now transformed into a source of clean energy. Researchers in Japan have developed an innovative technology to obtain green hydrogen from cow manure, a solution that not only reduces livestock pollution but also accelerates the transition to sustainable energy sources.
The process begins with the collection of manure, which is introduced into biodigesters, where bacteria break down the organic matter in the absence of oxygen. As a result, biogas is generated, mostly composed of methane. This gas undergoes a steam reforming process at high temperatures, thus obtaining hydrogen and CO₂. To make the procedure sustainable, CO₂ is captured and stored, avoiding its emission into the atmosphere. Additionally, the remaining solid waste is reused as natural fertilizer, closing a circular economy cycle in which each byproduct finds a useful application.
The environmental impact of this technology is significant. Livestock is responsible for large methane emissions, a gas with a greenhouse effect up to 25 times more potent than CO₂. Transforming methane into hydrogen not only prevents its release into the environment but also provides a clean fuel, whose use in vehicles and industries does not generate polluting emissions.
This type of hydrogen is ideal for replacing fossil fuels in sectors such as transportation and heavy industry, where electrification is a challenge. In this way, Japanese innovation emerges as a key player in the fight against climate change.
Cow manure is used as a source of clean energy.
Success cases at a global level
Japan leads the development of this technology, with projects already underway. An example is Toyota’s “trigeneration” plant in California, which transforms manure into hydrogen to supply vehicles like the Toyota Mirai. Other initiatives, such as those of Interstellar Technologies in Japan and India, seek to apply this technology in the aerospace industry and cargo transportation.
The expansion of biogas plants and advances in carbon capture could make manure-derived green hydrogen a key alternative for global decarbonization. As the world moves towards cleaner energy sources, this technology demonstrates that even waste can be the key to a sustainable future.
Design of a house in Japan that produces almost twice the energy it needs
The architecture firm Florian Busch Architects has completed “House W.” It is a wooden structure house located in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, Japan, which takes inspiration from the region’s ancient barns.
Designed for a family living in an environment with extreme climates—cold snowy winters and hot summers—the house was conceived to maximize energy efficiency. Thanks to a system of solar panels and a heat pump, it produces almost double the energy it consumes annually.
House W integrates 56 photovoltaic solar panels with a total capacity of 23 kW, installed in various sections of the exterior. This solar envelope, along with a battery system for energy storage, allows the house to operate autonomously without depending on the power grid for most of the year.
Source: BEonloop.
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