Hydroelectricity is one of the oldest forms of cleaner sources of energy. The approach uses the kinetic energy of water to turn turbines and generate electricity and has been adopted across countries. Recent studies have, however, shown that the water stored for hydroelectric power plants is a significant source of methane, and startups are looking to tap into it as an alternative to fossil fuels.
But now, it has emerged that even hydroelectric power plants emit methane. Estimates suggest that as much as three billion tonnes of methane comes from water used in these clean energy power plants.Carbon-rich water bodies where microbes decompose organic matter without oxygen also produce methane. The methane, however, stays dissolved in the water and is not released into the atmosphere. This is similar to the carbon dioxide dissolved in a capped soda bottle.
Methane is a component of natural gas and is used as a fuel in many places globally. Startups such as Blue Methane are now looking for ways to trap methane from hydroelectric power and sewage treatment plants, since they can serve as a non-fossil energy source. Their tech is even more interesting because it relies on gravity to do the major chunk of the work. Unlike most tech that pumps water to be processed, Blue Methane intends to maximize methane output with minimal energy input.
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