Here’s something I learned last night at Cafe Scientifique from one of our chemists, Chris Hendy.
Lake Rotorua produces a significant amount of methane. It just bubbles up to the surface from below. We could harvest it, and fuel a small power station; enough to provide energy to a small town.
"But Oh No" – I hear you cry – "Not more fossil fuel burning giving more carbon dioxide". Well, bear in mind that methane is a worse greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, so you’ll actually be reducing global warming by doing this.
In case you’re worried, I am not advocating putting a gas rig in the middle of the lake, I just thought it was worth a mention. Burning methane (natural gas) is not a problem IF the methane would otherwise end up in the atmosphere anyway.
Good luck harvesting it… if you figure it out, try also capturing the methane rising from the melting Siberian Permafrost!