Gasification

Poop + Trash = Power!

One of the most exciting components of Toyota Elephant Passage is the planned use of a biomass gasification system, which can turn human trash and animal waste into energy to power Toyota Elephant Passage. The gasification system will convert more than 90 percent of the zoo’s waste into usable energy.

Biomass gasification is a clean, environmentally-friendly technology that has been in use for decades, but has never been used for such a diverse waste stream ranging from human trash to animal waste. The zoo’s groundbreaking use of this technology has put us on the cutting edge of green technology that could change the way businesses worldwide handle their waste.

Every day, Denver Zoo produces an average 4,200 pounds of general waste (food waste and trash left by visitors), which goes to a landfill and 2,700 pounds of animal waste that currently is composted. The conversion of zoo waste into usable energy could save as much as $150,000 a year in energy costs. Denver Zoo’s landfill contributions will be reduced by 1.5 million pounds per year, putting the zoo a giant step closer to becoming a “zero-waste” facility.

“We wanted an innovative energy solution that would help us eliminate our landfill waste. We immediately considered ways to create energy from animal poop and human trash. The result is astounding - an energy solution that can create clean energy from trash,” says VP for Planning and Capital Projects George Pond.

Denver Zoo has built this innovative system from scratch and expects to implement the full system in the Toyota Elephant Passage exhibit by the end of the year.

During the early phases of design development, the zoo worked with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) which funded a workshop to help the zoo explore viable energy options. Numerous valuable partners have worked together to financially support this new technology including Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., The Boettcher Foundation, Anabel C. and Jerome P. McHugh, The Governor’s Energy Office (Colorado), Pioneer Resources, Mesa Energy Partners, LLC and Western Energy Alliance.

Austin and Blake’s Tuk Tuk, sponsored by the Autrey Foundation, was used  to test the poop to power gasification technology as a working prototype. Guests can see this motorized rickshaw that utilizes poop and trash as fuel in the new exhibit.