The firm presented the finding at the Fourth International Conference on Energy Sustainability in Phoenix Arizona yesterday (May 20).

It said that a ‘hypothetical farm’ of 10,000 dairy cows had the potential to power a 1mega-watt data centre.

The research looked at using cow poo, and claims the average animal produces 54.7 kilo-grams, to power computers.

This amount of manure from one cow, according to Hewlett-Packard, can produce power 3kWh.

Therefore 10,000 cows would produce 30,000kWh, which the researchers believe could power the 1MW data centre.

Luke Walsh

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