Junk Energy

In the New South Wales town of Tarago, a bioreactor has been build at a rubbish dump and is producing enough electricity to supply 1500 homes.

Focus Questions

  1. Why do dumps smell?
  2. What is methane?
  3. How is it being converted to energy?
  4. Describe in your own words how a bioreactor works.
  5. How many homes is the bioreactor currently powering? How many are they hoping to power?
  6. What gas is produced by the bioreactor and what impact does it have?
  7. How does this compare with methane?
  8. Is this a renewable or non-renewable form of energy?
  9. Is it important to explore other forms of energy production? Explain your answer.
  10. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using methane as a form of energy production?

Talking Rubbish

Students will be finding out more about biogas and how it is used in energy production. Ask them to consider the following questions when researching the topic:

§  What is biogas?

§  How is it used to produce energy/power?

§  How does a biogas generator or bioreactor work?

§  What are the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels?

Working in pairs, students will use the information collated from their research to create a diagram or simple model that demonstrates how a bioreactor or biogas generator works. Students will be displaying their diagram or model in the classroom and speaking briefly about how they work.

Further investigations

Build a bioreactor using a soft drink bottle. Go to http://www.css.cornell.edu/compost/soda.html
Or a more complex biogas generator, go to http://www.re-energy.ca/t-i_biomassbuild-1.shtml to find out more.

Research whether biofuels are being used in your local area as an alternative energy source.

Create an advertisement that promotes the use of biofuels.

8 Related Research Links

ABC News – Rubbish to power 20,000 homes
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/28/2201257.htm

ABC News – Methane power producers looking to wind power
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/14/2216540.htm?section=justin

BBC website – Information about methane
http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/evidence/methane.shtml

Build a simple bioreactor
http://www.css.cornell.edu/compost/soda.html

Build a Biogas generator
http://www.re-energy.ca/t-i_biomassbuild-1.shtml

NSW Department of Primary Industry – About landfill methane power generation
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/agriculture-today/december-2007/landfill-methane-power-generation

Energy Information Administration – Kids’ page
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/landfiller.html

© ABC 2008