Biopile - Energy from "waste"
Talking about renewable and sustainable energies, we often mean solar or wind power, produced by photovoltaic or windmill power plants. We often forget, that those generating plants need lots of resources in production or at disposal of waste. For example, semi-metal silicium is used for photovoltaic power plants, which doesn't occur naturally but has to be produced usin raw materials at high temperatures. Furthermore it has to be treated with chlorine and be evaporated and condensed multiple times to acheive the necessary purity. For this procedure, big amounts of electricity are needed, which is straining the environment.
The real challenge is to produce energy in closed ecological circuits. The frenchman Jean Pain (1928-1981) developed as agronomist in the Provence a system for the recycling of residues from cutting trees and bushes. The system is called Biopile. He succeeded in implementing a natural process of decay to gain warm water, warm air, biogas and valuable compost, without producing waste or burn anything. Incredibly enough, this system doesn't need many resources to start going.
A bio-pile is a bioremediation technology in which excavated soils are mixed with soil amendments, formed into compost piles, and enclosed for treatment. Inside the Biopile, temperatures develop up to 70 C°, so it suggests itself to be used for warm water or heating. As additional by-product, the gas methane is released from the bio mass. This easily flammable gas could be used to heat a gas stove, a motor or gas- thermics. The bio mass, after 18 months of decay, can be used as high quality compost.
The Biopile is an effective possibility to use "waste" to produce energy in a decentralised manner and end up with valuable fertilizer.
Permaculture Design Course 2011 - Sign up!
You can learn how to do Permaculture. No matter if you do it in your garden, your terrace, on your balcony or your piece of land. From June 18th to July 2nd 2011 you can attend a two week Permaculture-Design-Course (PDC) at Gut Lamplstätt in Germany with Bernhard Gruber and Christoff Schneider. Theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience are equal parts of the Permaculture Design Course. The teachers are well known in their field and provide profound background information about how to develop sustainable eatable landscapes and social living systems.
If you are interested in participating in the course in Germany, please let us know.