Energy transfer is not a new science.  Yet I was surprised when I read this recent article published in The World – Public Radio that was titled “How cremations are helping to heat homes in Denmark“.

 

One of my first thoughts is always about entrepreneurship and the idea that funeral homes with crematories could probably prosper from the sale of such energy transfers.  As I continued to read the article I was somewhat amazed that the heat exchangers in the Denmark system, a two cremator system that averages a total of 14 cremations per day, provided the heat necessary for 45 homes . . . and has done so since 2010.

 

That seemed to me to be a large enough number of homes heated by a crematory system to actually provide tangible benefits to society.  So, I continued to be intrigued.  And the article pointed out more and more benefits of this energy transfer as such:

“Reusing heat from crematoria is one of the more unusual examples of a broader sustainability practice known as “waste heat recovery,” also referred to as recapture, which involves recovering heat generated by industrial processes and channeling it into nearby heating systems.

This excess heat from sources like supermarket refrigeration or cremations can warm dozens of homes, but larger industries can supply far more. A nearby cement plant, for example, provides as much as 25% of Aalborg’s (Population of 100,000) heating needs.”

 

Here’s how the article explains the process according to technician Jerrik Park Bisgaard:

 

“The ashes go to the next of kin, the titanium goes to a company that makes new surgical implants, and the rest of the body rises up the chimney as gases.

But “instead of just putting it out through the chimney,” Bisgaard said, “we actually use it in a sustainable way.”

The high temperatures of the incinerator turn most of the body — over 90% — into water vapor, carbon dioxide and other “flue gases.” Before they’re allowed to escape, the crematorium’s filtration system “scrubs” the gas of certain chemicals, like chlorine and mercury and heavy metals like lead.

Down in the basement, Bisgaard explained that these blazing-hot gases must be cooled first. That’s the job of two humming boilers directly below the incinerators.

These boilers, they exchange heat from the flue gases and heat up the return water [from] the district heating system,” Bisgaard said.

Since 2010, this heated water has been piped back into the city’s network, where it circulates through residential radiators. The crematorium can generate enough heat for about 45 homes, according to Bisgaard, who monitors the system for the city.”

 

As I continued to read the article it was pointed out that there were, however, ethical concerns about this cremation heat-to-energy process.  Here is some information on that issue and the thought process which allowed crematory energy to be transfered:

 

“When the idea was first discussed in Denmark about two decades ago, the ethical questions centered on whether this system would use the dead as fuel.

Those concerns were brought before the Danish Council of Ethics, an independent body that deliberates such issues to help inform public policy. In 2006, the council concluded that the practice was acceptable, noting that “there are good reasons, including environmental reasons, for doing so.”

One of the major reasons cited was that the generation of heat was not the primary function of a cremation, but rather a byproduct.”

 

Funeral Director Daily take:  Reading this article was thought provoking and provides points for both sides of the issue. . . . and, I see the merits of both sides.

 

I don’t think we will see “cremation-to-energy” anytime soon in the United States but there might be some large crematory operators who see an income potential from this energy generation and pursue the ideas.

 

This is just another topic to show how Death Care is changing, how society is changing, and how we, as a society, look at differing options as solutions to problems.

 

An energy transfer success story —  In my community, well over thirty years ago, the community located the refuse center (where all garbage is taken to be incinerated) into an industrial location not far from our community’s technical college, hospital, and a 3M manufacturing plant.  The facility sells the steam generated from the burning of the waste to those facilities for their heating use.

 

According to an archived article from 2015 in our local newspaper, “171,756,000 pounds of steam were sold to nearby 3M, Douglas County Hospital and Alexandria Technical and Community College” in that year.

 

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Will human composting finally be legal in Illinois?  Lawmakers revisit “natural organic reduction”.  Video news story and print article.  WTVO TV – Rockford (IL)
• The man who wants to bring human composting to the UK.  BBC (Great Britain)
• Lawmakers discuss changes to natural burials, mortuary science requirements.  KAXE Public Radio (MN)
• Vineyard owners interested in selling farmland outside Salem for VA cemetery expansion.  Salem Reporter (OR)

 

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