Energy Mailbag: Trivia

(Ed.note: The Observer asked a University Professor. about whether something cheaper than corn or wood pellets could be burned for fuel. He is noted for writing his PhD thesis on uses of sheep manure.))


"You could burn sheep shit or any other kind (dung) for energy. It has been done for centuries. The key is the "product" has to be dry, and it will still produce a strong "earthy" odor, i.e. stink. Dried compost should work just as well. The problem is getting and keeping it dry without burning fossil fuel to produce hot air for drying it. Pelleting also takes energy (and costs money). Dried grass would work, too, if it could be gathered, dried, and pelleted cheaply."


Keep in touch, and good luck with the dried dung.