Pig farm waste to be utilised under new biofuel deal

A new pig farm biogas project has been agreed between US and Chinese firms, which could produce 3.5 million cubic metres of methane annually, according to the agreement.

Beijing DQY Agriculture Technology Co Ltd (DQY) and Virginia-based Smithfield Foods will set up a joint venture co-run by their subsidiaries, Beijing Helee Bio-Energy (HELEE) and Murphy-Brown, DQY said in a press release. The companies will invest a total of $1.8 billion into the project.

Besides the impressive production rates, the new project is likely to have a power generating capacity of 1 megawatt, DQY said. The company noted that it will have the ability to produce seven million kWh of electricity each year and cut 42,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The two companies have looked further into the future with plans to utilize wastes at more than 2,600 pig farms of the Smithfield Foods over the next ten years. This will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 21 million tons annually, which is four times the current yearly emission of Chicago.

Cuba is also developing similar projects, with swine waste mass been constructed into fuel for local neighbourhoods.

Posted by Lauren Steadman