From Guest-Blogger Jessica Greenberg: Five Weird Energy Source Ideas

When I was still a kid, one of the movies I loved was Back to the Future. Yeah, and you can bet your dollar that one of my most favorite machines would be the time-travelling car that Marty McFly rode to get back into the past. Back then, everything that came from the said movie seemed “futuristic” and the energy that powered up the car’s time-travelling engine fascinated kids and adults alike. Unfortunately, that kind of energy capacitor has not yet been invented, but who knows? Perhaps a genius inventor may finally discover or make one.

Speaking of energy, I’ve chanced upon an article in the Internet that talks about the possibility of using human fat into energy. Are you kidding me? Human fat? Well, the whole idea was that man and any other living organisms are carbon-based, so when the time an animal or a human being dies, they can use the corpse as a source of energy by putting them inside a furnace that generates energy. I know, the whole idea seems morbid and bizarre, but it does make sense though. The only problem is that no one would dare try this stuff out. It’s unethical, immoral and have not yet been proven by experts.

In any case, asides from the corpse generator idea, here are five more bizarre alternative energy sources that I’ve picked during my endless scouring in the Internet. What can I say? I love topics about anything weird and weird alternative energy sources just got me mind-blown!

1. Chocolate is Fuel

I have to say, the first time I heard that chocolate is a potential source of energy, it cracked me up. But apparently, some experts believe that chocolate has properties equal to gas. Combine chocolate, animal fat and a car made from woven flax, recycled resin and carbon fiber with a steering made from carrots (?) and you have your very own chocolate-powered car. I tried looking for pictures here in the Internet but someone took it out. Well, I can’t say for sure whether this is indeed legitimate, but the number of articles pointing to this technological curiosity convinced me that it must be true. I bet Willie Wonka would be proud.

2. Trash and Coffee Grounds

Okay, so I was wrong; apparently, someone already created an engine that transforms trash into fuel. Chicken John Rinaldi managed to build a biogas-type engine on his pickup truck and he states that the fuel he uses for his vehicle are coffee grounds and organic trash. While it’s not as fancy as the Mr. Fusion engine from the Back to the Future universe, his engine does work without problems.

3. Diaper Energy

This is going to be mind-blowing, as well as gross too, but apparently, some companies have decided to convert a whole pile of used disposable diapers into biofuel. A lot of eco-friendly parents are feeling guilty about the millions of used disposable diapers thrown away every year. And take note; it’s 18 million used diapers per year. So, the solution to this problem? Use baby poop energy and turn it into bio-fuel. It does kind of make sense, which is why there is one plant in England that does exactly this.

4. Chickens and Turkeys Anyone?

What? Chickens and turkeys? Well, no, it’s their by-products that are being used as an alternative energy source. Pig manure is converted into biogas, that we already know. But how about chicken and turkey manure? Well, there’s a company called Changing World Technologies which is concentrating on converting chicken and turkey manure into reliable energy. Oh, and take note; not just their body wastes, but slaughterhouse leftovers, like feathers, bones and fat. In a way, it is kind of disgusting, but at least they’re not burning human corpses for energy!

5. Human Fat is Energy!

I’ve already talked about corpses getting burned in a furnace as a form of energy, right? Well, it seems somebody invented the notion that human fat can actually be converted into fuel as well. And to make things even more interesting, there’s a boat that runs on human fat. The Earthrace, owned by Peter Buthene, made a journey around the world with human fat as gas. But just how did he get enough human fat to power up this boat on a trip around the world? Well, just one word for all of you: liposuction. Yep, he used his and his friends’ own fat as fuel. That’s really creepy.

About the Author:

Jessica Greenberg is an experienced blogger/alternate energy researcher from San Diego, California. She spends most of her time writing and surfing the Internet for forums and discussions about alternate energy,