Detroit Zoo among first zoos in North America to build anaerobic digester to manage animal and food waste.

July 24, 2018

2 Min Read
Michigan State turns zoo waste into clean energy
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Michigan State University has created a green solution for the problem of what to do with animal and food waste at the Detroit Zoo in Michigan. Researcher Dana Kirk and his team worked with the Detroit Zoo to build the first anaerobic digester at a zoo in North America, creating clean energy capable of powering some of the zoo’s operations.

An anaerobic digester is a sealed tank, deprived of oxygen, in which organic waste is degraded at a high temperature, the university explained. This allows waste material to decompose quickly and produce methane that can be captured and converted to electricity.

In animal agriculture, anaerobic digesters are gaining interest as a manure management system -- particularly in the dairy industry -- as a way to generate electricity that can help power the farming operation or can be sold to local power grids.

The Detroit Zoo digester powers its animal hospital, which operates at 100-150 kW per hour. For reference, a typical U.S. household uses about 900 kW of electricity per month. In addition to helping reduce electricity costs, benefits include repurposing animal and food waste and reducing greenhouse gases, the university said.

Michigan State is recognized internationally for its experience and expertise in anaerobic digester research and development. Kirk, an assistant professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering and manager of Michigan State's Anaerobic Digestion Research & Education Center, has lent his expertise and served as the technical lead on a digester in Costa Rica as well as a digester that powers part of Michigan State’s south campus.

“Over the span of more than eight years, we have worked with hundreds of clients around the United States to understand how much energy can be produced from organic wastes,” Kirk said. “We also have helped stakeholders evaluate technologies, troubleshoot underperforming systems, design and construct pilot digester platforms and conduct feasibility studies.”

While there are an estimated 40-60 million anaerobic digesters worldwide, just more than 1,500 are located in the U.S., Michigan State said. That number is expected to grow as digesters like the one at the Detroit Zoo come on line.

With more than 1.5 million visitors annually, the zoo is helping more people learn about the value of digesters in creating clean energy from readily available resources.

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