Cowadunga! Cowpats could be used to power milk tankers around the UK as dairy farmers try to turn mucky manure into biofuel
- Arla is taking part in an experiment in which manure is turned into biofuel
- It will provide a ‘limitless source of energy’ and create fertiliser for fields
- Two milk tankers will be converted to run on methane-rich fuel – from 500 cows
Cowpats could be used to power the tankers that transport milk around the country, if a trial is successful.
Leading UK dairy co-operative Arla is taking part in an experiment in which manure is turned into biofuel to provide a ‘limitless source of energy’.
The process will also create fertiliser which farmers can use on their fields.
Two milk tankers will be converted to run on the methane-rich fuel – sourced from 500 cows.
Leading UK dairy co-operative Arla is taking part in an experiment in which manure is turned into biofuel to provide a ‘limitless source of energy’ (file photo)
The vehicles are expected to cover 60,000 miles over three months, with the manure helping to reduce carbon emissions by 80 tonnes – the equivalent of 23 cars travelling all the way around the world.
Arla farmer Ian Barker said: ‘Many of us recognise how valuable a cow’s milk is, but many aren’t aware manure is just as important.
‘Processing cow manure in this manner provides us with a limitless source of energy, plus [what is] left over… makes an even richer fertiliser for my fields, so it’s a win-win.’
Arla farmers will send cows’ poo to a nearby anaerobic digestion plant.
There it will be broken down into different components, including clean bio-methane, and converted into usable fuel.
The vehicles are expected to cover 60,000 miles over three months, with the manure helping to reduce carbon emissions by 80 tonnes (file photo)