Manure Growing Energy Algae
Algae Power Bridport, Vermont - July 13, 2009 The cows at the Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport make more than milk. Their manure also produces power through the digester at the south side of the barns. But for the last nine months some of that liquid manure has also been sent over to a mini greenhouse where it's being investigated as another source of alternative energy. "Algae's been around from day one of the world," said Gail Busch of Algepower. That's right-- they're growing algae from manure. Busch is the inventor of Algeponics, a patented photobioreactor-- what she calls a vertical stream. She says it's the only indoor, controlled system in the world. Here's how it works: Once the liquid manure gets pumped over and diluted with water it runs from top to bottom, the manure serving as the host. "Half of the volume of that tray runs into the tray below and all the way through. Also, if you look at the system you can see that the bottom trays are mu...