Waste products are a clever source of energy and particularly those that are easy to come by. There is a virtually unlimited supply of human urine from around the world which is renewed on a daily basis, several times a day! Rather than letting our water companies deal with the problem of waste, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could recycle it as a future fuel?
This latest idea would involve running an electrical current through our waste water and extracting the resulting hydrogen. A bit like water electrolysis, but even better, as hydrogen can be separated from urea and ammonia (components of urine) much easier than water.
Could the Power of Pee be Profound?
It just might be. It solves a massive waste problem in some areas of society. For instance, it is hoped to be used in places such as airports, hotels, large office blocks, high rise buildings and stadiums for example. Anywhere, in fact, where lots of people gather in a need to use… you’ve guessed it… the lavatory. It’s not limited to humans either as its being considered for use with animals such as cattle. 1000 cows could produce as much as 50 kilowatts of power and solve a waste problem in the process.
If you think this is a strange idea of creating power, it will pale into insignificance in the future. Idea’s are already out there for: harnessing the power of movement by driving all sorts of transport over metal plates (in busy shopping districts), creating artificial tornadoes (vortices) in power stations and using them to turn turbines, cow manure for its methane creation, potato power energy, using rain to generate electricity and indeed ourselves, perhaps by running on a treadmill or walking over moving plates. Who knows what the future will hold?
So urine is useful after all?
As far as clean energy goes, yes! Well clean-ish energy and just when you thought it was all going down the pan…
