From livestock waste to clean electricity

THAI NGUYEN More and more livestock farms are using biogas generators to create renewable electricity, helping to save costs and reduce environmental pollution.

On an area of ​​6 hectares along the upstream of Cong River (Pho Yen ward, Thai Nguyen province), Mr. Tran Xuan Phong's farm operates with a scale of 4,000 pigs per litter, reaching an output of 1,000 tons of meat per year.

Since starting operations in 2018, the biggest problem for him has been odor and waste treatment. Despite trying many solutions, the results have been negligible. The farm is forced to discharge waste directly into the environment and burn methane gas to reduce the odor - a method that does not completely solve the problem and also causes more pollution.

The turning point came in January 2024 when the farm installed and operated a biogas generator. This device makes full use of the abundant biogas source from pig manure to convert into electricity.

Mr. Tran Xuan Phong, farm owner, uses a smartphone to start a biogas generator. Photo: Phuong Linh.

Mr. Phong shared that this conversion has brought a "world-changing" difference to the farm. "The biggest change is the complete control and handling of the odor problem," he emphasized. "Thanks to taking advantage of available energy sources, the farm estimates that it has reduced monthly electricity costs by up to 50%. This change not only brings economic benefits but also helps reduce greenhouse gases, contributing to environmental protection."

This machine, assembled and operated by Chinh Phat Company, was hired by Mr. Phong to install early last year. It operates based on the mechanism of using biogas from pig waste compost pits, converting it into electricity.

In essence, the company placed a generator on Mr. Phong's farm, used the biogas from the digester to generate electricity, and then sold it back to the farm owner at a price cheaper than the market price during peak and off-peak hours.

Pig manure is transported to a compost pit to be converted into electricity. Photo: Phuong Linh.

According to Mr. Tong Xuan Chinh, Director of Chinh Phat Company, renting generators is to introduce farmers to the quality of new equipment lines, and to support households so that they do not have to spend a large amount of money to invest in buying new machines.

"To date, 70% of the company's funding comes from biogas, and it has installed around 150 systems for farms across the country. The company has also combined biogas electricity with renewable energy systems such as solar and wind power, providing a more stable power source for large-scale farms.

During the process of building the system, Chinh Phat developed some Made in Vietnam technologies, such as the remote control system. In the future, we hope to be able to transfer the technology, as well as export and sell to countries in Southeast Asia or further," he said.

Chinh Phat is one of the enterprises benefiting from the project "Bioenergy in livestock farms" under the Australian Government 's Business Partnership Platform (BPP) Program implemented in Vietnam.

The cooperation project between E-GREEN, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Nexus for Development, HD Bank, STT&T Technical Services Company, Chinh Phat Company, and the Australian Government, has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy costs up to 25%, and create new sources of income for farmers, contributing to building a more sustainable and environmentally responsible livestock industry.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird said that both the Australian and Vietnamese governments are committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. “Australia, as a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, is proud to partner with Vietnam in reducing emissions, optimizing energy costs and expanding employment opportunities for the farming community,” the Ambassador said.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tu-chat-thai-chan-nuoi-den-nguon-dien-sach-d787263.html