A zoo has become the first of its kind to generate renewable energy using animal poo.
Marwell Zoo in Hampshire will heat its largest buildings, including the tropical house, using biomass technology which will save the equivalent of 220 tonnes of CO2 each year.
Our world-first initiative harnesses the power of zoo poo! ?
Marwell has become the first of its kind to generate renewable energy using animal waste. Zoo poo from endangered species such as Grevy’s zebra will heat our largest buildings!
Learn more: https://t.co/bDQsDVyrib pic.twitter.com/2x29B5lloX
— Marwell Wildlife (@Marwellwildlife) October 28, 2021
Waste from a range of endangered species – including Grevy’s zebra, the scimitar horned oryx and the Somali wild ass – will be used for the scheme which is helping the conservation charity’s aim of becoming carbon neutral by next year.
Dr Duncan East, the zoo’s head of sustainability, said: “Using heat in this way from our own animals is unique in the UK and as far as we know across the world.
“Previously 600 tonnes of animal waste was taken off-site to be composted, and this came with a significant carbon transport cost.
The animal waste is collected each morning to be shredded and mixed before it is dried and pressed into briquettes, which are fed into the boiler in the Energy for Life: Tropical House which is home to a Linne’s two-toed sloth, free-flying tropical birds and crocodile monitor lizards.
