Biogas To Power Experimental Microsoft Data Center

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Biogas To Power Experimental Microsoft Data Center

Posted by timothy on Tuesday November 20, 2012 @04:36AM from the wholly-excrement dept.

Nerval's Lobster writes "Microsoft, FuelCell Energy and a collection of local Cheyenne, Wyoming companies are collaborating on a project to supply one of Microsoft's local data centers with biogas, in a bid to determine if what we poop can be turned into power. FuelCell and Microsoft will test a small 200-kilowatt data center with a fuel cell that can produce up to 300 kilowatts in a carbon-neutral manner. Microsoft estimates the total carbon savings at about 1,833 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per megawatt-hour, compared to a typical fossil fuel plant. Although other data centers rely on biogas as a power source, Microsoft claims this is the first time a biogas source — specifically, a wastewater treatment facility — will be integrated directly with a data center."

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New CEO by Nerdfest · 2012-11-20 04:38 · Score: 3, Funny

So that's what they're planning on doing with Balmer.
1. Re:New CEO by somersault · 2012-11-20 04:39 · Score: 2
  
  Microsoft claims this is the first time a biogas source â" specifically, a wastewater treatment facility â" will be integrated directly with a data center.
  They're definitely taking the piss this time.
  
  --
  which is totally what she said
2. Re:New CEO by chthon · 2012-11-20 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  That was also my first idea: powered by the gas of Ballmer!
3. Re:New CEO by MickyTheIdiot · 2012-11-20 05:01 · Score: 2
  
  The bullshit he spews is enough to run all the MS data centers AND the Google data centers as well.
  Sounds good to me.
4. Re:New CEO by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:28 · Score: 0
  
  Who runs Balmertown?
  Master-blaster runs Balmertown.
5. Re:New CEO by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 08:11 · Score: 0
  
  ROFL! Damn it, no mod points.
  Tina Turn throws ______ a shovel. "You know how to shovel shit don't ya?" (Replace blank with new Windows' exec, Julie Larson-Green for example)
The jokes write themselves by sideslash · 2012-11-20 04:40 · Score: 4, Funny

It almost seems cruel to comment.
1. Re:The jokes write themselves by Nerdfest · 2012-11-20 04:43 · Score: 1
  
  It's Microsoft. Have at it.
2. Re:The jokes write themselves by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 04:49 · Score: 0
  
  It's Microsoft. Have at it.
  So they'd be, in effect, turning shit into shit?
3. Re:The jokes write themselves by phil_aychio · 2012-11-20 04:53 · Score: 0
  
  I would expect the on-site cafeteria to play a part in this, especially when 'output' is low. Free broccoli and cabbage with every meal.
  
  --
  obvious redundancy is obvious
4. Re:The jokes write themselves by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 04:54 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, don't try to make intelligent comments. The Slashdot Nazis wouldn't want that.
5. Re:The jokes write themselves by ColdWetDog · 2012-11-20 05:15 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  Garbage In, Garbage Out.
  Come on folks, this should have been posted within 30 seconds.
  
  --
  Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
6. Re:The jokes write themselves by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:25 · Score: 0
  
  Garbage in Garbage out!?
7. Re:The jokes write themselves by alostpacket · 2012-11-20 06:02 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  I just tagged the story "brown" in addition to "green".
  
  --
  PocketPermissions Android Permission Guide
8. Re:The jokes write themselves by ByteSlicer · 2012-11-20 08:21 · Score: 1
  
  1. Release Windows 8
  2. Convert into biogas for use into data center
  3. Profit !!!
  OMG! They found the missing step!
Breaking news! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 04:40 · Score: 0

The new version of Internet Explorer shall be used to power an experimental Microsoft data center!
1. Re:Breaking news! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 08:45 · Score: 0
  
  Like the New Linux rootkit is? So much for years of /. FUD http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/11/20/1733237/new-linux-rootkit-emerges
Re:Fitting by masternerdguy · 2012-11-20 04:42 · Score: 0

maybe they are finally giving windows 8 a niche.

--
To offset political mods, replace Flamebait with Insightful.
Confirmed! by operagost · 2012-11-20 04:51 · Score: 0

Anyone who has had to use the bathroom after I've had Mexican food can confirm it's pretty powerful.

--

Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
I guess it's time by HaZardman27 · 2012-11-20 04:53 · Score: 1

You can only create so much shit before you need to find something to do with it!

--
Apparently wizard is not a legitimate career path, so I chose programmer instead.
Biogass? by jd2112 · 2012-11-20 04:59 · Score: 0

Microsoft datacenter running on poop... Sounds appropriate.

--
Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
Don't believe the lie by emurphy42 · 2012-11-20 05:01 · Score: 1

You've gotta tell 'em! BIOGAS IS PEOPLE! We gotta stop them! Somehow! Listen! Listen to me, PLEASE!
Been used for heating long time by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:07 · Score: 0

The Naval Research Laboratory, where I worked for many years, used the methane from the DC sewage plant next door to generate steam heat. Biogas also has quite a bit of carbon dioxide and air in it, so you need a system that can adjust the fuel air mixture as the gas ratios change. There are also quite a few sulfur compounds in it which is no problem for a burner but would require clean up for something like a fuel cell.
1. Re:Been used for heating long time by mlts · 2012-11-20 07:09 · Score: 1
  
  This gets me wondering if mixed right, biogas can be used in a diesel engine. There was a blog I read a while back about someone managing to get a mixture of 80% biogas and 20% diesel fuel to work in a generator.
  If this could be refined, the usual conventional anti-particulate (DEF, DPF) and some anti-sulphur methods could be used.
  Even more interesting would be if Hamworthy could get their biogas liquification technology out worldwide. In liquid form, it would be a lot more useful, especially for vehicles.
Biogas? by nazrhyn · 2012-11-20 05:07 · Score: 1

Am I the only person who read "biogas" as the plural of "bioga" and wondered what a "bioga" was?
1. Re:Biogas? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:13 · Score: 0
  
  yes
2. Re:Biogas? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:36 · Score: 0
  
  No.
3. Re:Biogas? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 06:02 · Score: 0
  
  Did the same darn thing, lol!
4. Re:Biogas? by Keith111 · 2012-11-20 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah. Biogas is not a word. I re-read the title like 5 times before I realized what it was supposed to be. Fail title is fail.
5. Re:Biogas? by somersault · 2012-11-20 10:53 · Score: 1
  
  Google to the rescue!
  http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Bioga
  
  Bioga - the third spell on the Poison Magic Materia, after Bio and Bio 2. It takes 20,000 AP to master, costs 80 MP to cast, has a base spell power equal to 4.25x the base magic damage, and has a 72% chance of inflicting Poison
  I'm not sure how much base magic damage a nuclear power station does for example, but it sounds like you could definitely use a bunch of Biogas to power stuff.
  
  --
  which is totally what she said
What's a bioga? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:07 · Score: 0

What's a bioga, and how many of them do they need?
Next Stop: Microsoft Marketing by Revotron · 2012-11-20 05:09 · Score: 1, Funny

Just think, a self-sustained marketing department - bullshit powered by bullshit!
1. Re:Next Stop: Microsoft Marketing by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:43 · Score: 0
  
  So they discovered perpetual motion?
2. Re:Next Stop: Microsoft Marketing by Revotron · 2012-11-20 06:24 · Score: 1
  
  It's one step above perpetual - it's Keynesian. For every pound of bullshit converted to power, they produce another 1.5 pounds. Microsoft Marketing is an efficient and hilarious beast.
Cafeterias by blind+biker · 2012-11-20 05:15 · Score: 1

I know that the Microsoft cafeterias don't quite measure up to Google's, but this is just ridiculous!

--
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
What's a bioga? by mblase · 2012-11-20 05:25 · Score: 0

And why are they suddenly so powerful?
Wow by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:32 · Score: 0

It's somewhat tiring to realize how predictable the comments here are.
I wonder how different the tone would be if someone like Google or Apple was going to give this a try...
Microsoft powered by hot air by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 05:33 · Score: 0

What else is new?
so basically by nimbius · 2012-11-20 05:34 · Score: 0

run it on whatever powered the zune.

--
Good people go to bed earlier.
It's made of PEOPLE! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 06:02 · Score: 0

PEOPLE! Biogas is made of PEOPLE!
New badge for Surface by sjames · 2012-11-20 06:28 · Score: 1

Powered by poo gas.
Waste Queue by smitsco · 2012-11-20 06:41 · Score: 1

Example of Waste IN - Waste OUT.
good luck with that by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 06:57 · Score: 0

You still have sludge end product. What you gonna do with that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sludge
https://www.eiseverywhere.com/file_uploads/b3607c8c4a297fe93b44bcf90615160d_IanPepper.pdf
(see page 15)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1393177/
http://skequipment.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/reactivationandregrowthtpupdate1.pdf
http://www.e-wef.org/Default.aspx?TabId=192&productid=4102
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/mrsa-wastewater-treatment-plants_n_2083862.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15156020
1. Re:good luck with that by whizbang77045 · 2012-11-20 10:33 · Score: 1
  
  Microsoft has been selling it to users for years, disguised in various ways.
2. Re:good luck with that by cusco · 2012-11-20 11:07 · Score: 1
  
  The same thing that Cheyenne currently does with its sludge.
  
  --
  "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
Fartdriver computing by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 07:55 · Score: 0

Fartdriven computing is the future, not only for big data centres. Those nice plug-in power supplies have been availabe for iPhone a long time.
Finding fuel by thewiz · 2012-11-20 08:19 · Score: 1

Why does Microsoft need poop to power their datacenter?
The MS management should know that there is plenty of fuel: Bob, Clippy, Windows NT, Windows Millenium, Windows 8...

--
If "disco" means "I learn" in Latin, does "discothèque" mean "I learn technology"?
1. Re:Finding fuel by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 08:46 · Score: 0
  
  perhaps it's better than Linux and its latest rootkit http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/11/20/1733237/new-linux-rootkit-emerges
Re:Fitting by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 08:42 · Score: 0

New Linux rootkit anyone? So much for years of /. FUD http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/11/20/1733237/new-linux-rootkit-emerges
Farting in the general direction of micorshaft? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 10:26 · Score: 0

Does this mean munchkins must now face Redmond and fart in the general direction of micorshaft?
Congress is already full of it. by whizbang77045 · 2012-11-20 10:34 · Score: 1

Just think of the results this could produce if Congress were to implement it. They're full of the necessary components.
Wast heat by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 10:59 · Score: 1

Now if they use waste heat from the data center to accelerate the production of biogas, that might be interesting.
shit powering shit by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-20 11:20 · Score: 0

'nuf said.