Got A Match?
Working closely with an Amish farmer, University of Illinois scientists have developed a cheap source of energy that combines coal dust and animal manure.
The researchers have dubbed their product, the "Bio-briquette" and its developers are hopeful it will serve as a source of heat for homes and small businesses.
The supply for the experiment came from a 48-cow dairy herd. Each of the animals produces and estimated 5,000 pounds of manure annually, which would provide entrepreneurs with quite a pile of potential power.
Further work will concentrate on the optimum combination of dung and dust for greater dispersal of thermodynamic energy.