Walmart is donating six microturbines from its experimental store in Aurora to the Denver Zoo for its waste-to-energy system, which will convert the zoo’s animal waste and human trash into usable energy and heat.
The microturbines will generate electrical energy to run the filters and pumps in the zoo’s 10-acre Toyota Elephant Passage exhibit, and provide heat to endangered Asian species such as Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinos and Malayan tapirs.
Encana funded the tntegration of the microturbine technology used in Denver Zoo’s waste-to-energy technology.
The Denver Zoo has set a goal to become a zero-waste facility by 2025. It was also the first zoo in the country to receive ISO 14001 certification for all of its operations.
Walmart says these microturbines are valued at about $1.2 million.