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Methane warms the atmosphere far more than carbon dioxide, even though it stays there for a shorter time. Cattle farming produces about one third of methane emissions from human activity. In barns, the gas is highly diluted, below 5%, which makes it hard to capture profitably.<\/p>\n
Start-up Sixteen44<\/strong>, based at EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, has tested a device that eliminates methane directly in cow barns. The trial took place at the Strickhof experimental farm in Lindau, in the canton of Zurich. According to the company, it is the world\u2019s first demonstration plant able to treat such diluted methane.<\/p>\n The device converts methane into water and carbon dioxide through plasma oxidation, accelerated by a catalyst. It operates at around 40 \u00b0C, compared with 400 to 500 \u00b0C for other technologies, which reduces its energy use. According to its co-founder William Ramsay<\/strong>, it cut methane in the test barn by 60 to 70%.<\/p>\nKey figures<\/h3>\n
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What it means for businesses<\/h3>\n
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Who says what<\/h3>\n
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What's next<\/h3>\n
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Further reading<\/h3>\n