Resource recycling efforts to repurpose livestock manure from upstream Yeongju Dam as fuel for power generation are set to begin in earnest.
This initiative aims to convert livestock waste, a source of water pollution, into energy, promoting both carbon neutrality and water quality improvement at the dam.
On September 29, Korea Southeast Power and Korea Water Resources Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly promote a project utilizing livestock manure from the Yeongju Dam area as solid recovered fuel (SRF) for power generation.
The core of this project involves collecting livestock manure from the upstream area of Yeongju Dam, processing it into solid fuel, and using it as fuel for power plants.
This initiative is significant as it aims to reduce the inflow of livestock waste into rivers, thereby improving water quality, while also transforming waste that would otherwise be landfilled into an energy resource, creating a circular economy model.
Under the agreement, Korea Water Resources Corporation will be responsible for the production, supply, and quality management of the solid fuel. Korea Southeast Power will utilize the supplied fuel at its power plants and provide data on combustion characteristics and equipment operation to promote further utilization.
The two organizations plan to conduct a demonstration of energy production using solid fuel within the year and will explore follow-up projects that link dam water quality management with resource recycling based on the results.
They are also considering ways to utilize not only livestock manure but also floating debris such as waste wood collected from the dam. By sorting useful materials and mixing them with livestock manure, they believe they can enhance the calorific value and energy efficiency of the solid fuel.
This initiative aims to establish a resource recycling system that connects dam debris management, livestock waste reduction, and eco-friendly power generation into a single process.
Park Seong-je, head of the Climate and Environment Division at Korea Southeast Power, stated, "Utilizing livestock manure as power generation fuel will contribute to greenhouse gas reduction as well as improving water quality at Yeongju Dam and addressing local environmental issues. We will combine the expertise of both organizations to create a resource recycling model that enhances the value of waste resources."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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