The government is set to begin field verification for utilizing cow manure as solid fuel. This initiative aims to investigate the entire process from the amount of manure generated on livestock farms to the production and quality of the fuel, thereby reducing the burden of livestock manure disposal while establishing a foundation for renewable energy use.
The National Institute of Environmental Research, under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, announced on September 17 that it will hold a kickoff meeting for the 'Field Survey and Policy Support Research for Promoting Cow Dung Solid Fuel' on September 18 at the JK Business Center in Yongsan, Seoul.
Cow dung is a biomass resource generated locally that can be processed into solid fuel for energy use. The government explains that collecting locally produced cow dung for fuel not only alleviates the burden of livestock manure disposal but also contributes to greenhouse gas reduction.
On July 30, the government began revising related systems, including the permitting and quality standards for cow dung solid fuel facilities, in accordance with the 'Act on the Management and Use of Livestock Manure.' However, to implement these systems effectively, verification of the actual amount of cow dung generated, fuel quality, and economic feasibility is necessary.
To this end, the National Institute of Environmental Research will gather data on the entire process from cow dung generation to solid fuel production and final quality through this research. The study will be conducted in three phases: a field-based survey of cow dung generation, quality and material-energy balance analysis at each processing stage, and tailored policy recommendations.
Initially, the research will compare and analyze the actual amount of cow dung emitted from livestock facilities with the quantity and characteristics of the dung currently being processed at solid fuel production facilities. Approximately ten representative farms near the production facilities and a core sample of 300 head of cattle farms will be designated for periodic sampling and analysis of solid fuel quality standards, total solids, salinity, and phosphorus.
At the production facilities, the material and energy balance, quality, and moisture content at each processing stage will be analyzed from raw cow dung to solid fuel products. This will provide scientific evidence regarding salinity and phosphorus concentration, as well as estimate the potential for solid fuel production considering actual cow dung emissions, collection rates, quality compliance rates, and processing yields.
Efforts will also be made to incorporate field opinions into policy. Two meetings will be held at the end of this year and early next year, involving stakeholders such as cow dung solid fuel producers, consumers, and local governments, to prepare policy recommendations for system improvements.
Park Jeong-min, head of the Environmental Resource Research Division at the National Institute of Environmental Research, stated, "This research will provide substantial scientific data on actual cow dung generation, fuel quality, and facility operation. We plan to continuously support the development of policies that consider both environmental and energy aspects in the promotion of cow dung solid fuel, tailored to local conditions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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