The city of Lünen in Germany is changing the face of energy production - a biogas network is being developed which will use cow dung and horse manure as a low cost alternative to fossil fuels to generate energy - let's just hope it doesn't smell as bad as it sounds...
Local farms will supply animal waste, corn, wheat and grass to be turned into biogas - a move which stands to benefit 90,000 residents.
The network's power plant, which is currently under construction, could produce as much as 6.6MW, enough to supply 26,000 homes with heat and electricity in a low cost alternative to oil, coal and Russian gas.
Unlike the disruption and visible impact of solar and wind power, a biogas network is invisible as it is underground. As the gas is to be distributed around the city through a new biogas pipeline network, a horizontal drilling robot will do the work, meaning that roads will not be disturbed.
The gas network will power a series of ten super-silent cogeneration units, which will feed electricity into the grid and heat into local district heating networks.
The CHP Cogeneration units are camouflaged as decorative installations featuring wood and plants to become part of the urban environment. Frank Schmitt, Managing Director of Schmitt Enertec, which is supplying the cogeneration units, said, "We believe this is a model for the future of local power generation.
"What makes this project exiting is the combination of Cogeneration with renewable energy in an urban environment," he added.
Lünen is the first City in the world to build and manage a biogas network. This sustainable technology allows local production of local power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, fuel imports and international pressures.
The new green technology brings will also bring new jobs to Lünen. If the pioneering move works, it could become a sustainable way of producing energy all over the world - other cities are already considering similar projects.
The network is expected to deliver heat and electricity to Lünen customers by the end of this year.
The network's power plant, which is currently under construction, could produce as much as 6.6MW, enough to supply 26,000 homes with heat and electricity in a low cost alternative to oil, coal and Russian gas.
Unlike the disruption and visible impact of solar and wind power, a biogas network is invisible as it is underground. As the gas is to be distributed around the city through a new biogas pipeline network, a horizontal drilling robot will do the work, meaning that roads will not be disturbed.
The gas network will power a series of ten super-silent cogeneration units, which will feed electricity into the grid and heat into local district heating networks.
The CHP Cogeneration units are camouflaged as decorative installations featuring wood and plants to become part of the urban environment. Frank Schmitt, Managing Director of Schmitt Enertec, which is supplying the cogeneration units, said, "We believe this is a model for the future of local power generation.
"What makes this project exiting is the combination of Cogeneration with renewable energy in an urban environment," he added.
Lünen is the first City in the world to build and manage a biogas network. This sustainable technology allows local production of local power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, fuel imports and international pressures.
The new green technology brings will also bring new jobs to Lünen. If the pioneering move works, it could become a sustainable way of producing energy all over the world - other cities are already considering similar projects.
The network is expected to deliver heat and electricity to Lünen customers by the end of this year.
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