HORSE power: Old technology new again

Large farms, food-processing plants, cafeterias, residential neighborhoods and other operations that churn out at least 135 pounds of organic waste daily can generate their own power with the “High-solids Organic-waste Recycling System with Electrical Output,” or HORSE.  

An anaerobic digester, the HORSE uses bacteria to break down that daily volume of trash into 125 million BTU of natural gas each year, along with 4.3 megawatts of electricity and 5,400 gallons of liquid fertilizer. 

Impact Bioenergy, the development company, just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign to demonstrate a commercial version of the $43,000 device. 

The 130-square-foot unit slides off a truck, doesn’t have to be plugged into a power outlet, stores about 175 cubic feet of waste, and even has valves to connect ovens, barbecue grills and electric lights.  Owners can create a new revenue stream by selling the fertilizer while they cut back their garbage bills.