In a pioneering initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of South Korea has announced plans to convert livestock manure into renewable energy, aiming to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions by 500,000 tonnes. This move comes in response to the increasing demand for renewable energy as well as the urgent need to mitigate environmental impact.

Innovative Approach to Renewable Energy

MAFRA’s strategy focuses on transforming livestock manure into solid fuel. Following successful test combustions of this innovative fuel in 2024 and 2025, the ministry has confirmed its feasibility for large-scale energy production.

“Livestock manure solid fuel is an effective alternative that reduces environmental burdens such as odour, substitutes coal, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. Our goal is to enhance both field applicability and economic viability, thus promoting sustainable regional resource recycling systems,” stated a MAFRA spokesperson.

Energy Generation Goals

MAFRA forecasts that by 2030, the conversion of livestock manure into solid fuel will reach approximately 1.18 million tonnes per year. This would equate to the generation of electricity sufficient for 38,000 households annually, while concurrently reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those generated by 360,000 vehicles.

The plan aims to scale up the utilization of manure-based solid fuel in large power plants, with commercial production set to commence in 2026.

Facilitating the Transition

To kickstart this initiative, production facilities in Suncheon and Gimje will produce about 10,000 tonnes of solid fuel annually. MAFRA is committed to increasing fuel consumption to 660,000 tonnes by 2029 and eventually to 1 million tonnes by 2030.

Support measures include upgrading power plant infrastructure to accommodate this new fuel source, such as installing dedicated storage silos and sealed fuel transfer systems. Furthermore, there is anticipated growth in demand through the deployment of manure-only energy systems at various agricultural and industrial sites, including greenhouses and meat processing facilities.

As part of the transition, solid fuel boilers will be provided free of charge to farms currently dependent on electric boilers, in collaboration with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Additionally, MAFRA aims to partner with feed companies, meat processors, and power producers to construct combined heat and power facilities using the newly developed livestock manure solid fuel by 2030.

Boosting Efficiency and Capacity

To ensure a stable supply of the new solid fuel, MAFRA plans to expand production capacity to 25 facilities by 2030, with nine sites currently under construction in regions such as Suncheon, Gimje, Bonghwa, Goheung, and Andong. Existing composting and manure treatment facilities will be leveraged to expedite this deployment, with comprehensive feasibility studies to be completed by 2026.

Furthermore, the ministry seeks to extend fuel testing beyond cattle manure, aiming to increase the number of power plants utilizing livestock manure solid fuel from three to eight by 2028.

Enhancing Fuel Quality

As part of its initiative, MAFRA will work to improve the quality of livestock manure-based solid fuel. This will include stricter collection practices and enhanced reuse of combustion by-products, while also easing technical standards to broaden the variety of manure suitable for energy generation.

The timeline for manure collection will be reduced from eight months to three months to ensure compliance with fuel production standards. Additionally, MAFRA plans to revise regulations to enable the reuse of ash as compost or fertiliser feedstock, providing sustainable disposal pathways for power producers.

Moreover, South Korea is exploring the potential of recovering phosphorus from combustion ash, which could generate higher-value products and create new income streams. This approach mirrors successful strategies already in use in countries like Japan, where companies generate significant annual revenues from phosphorus recovery.

To further develop this initiative, MAFRA will conduct test combustions of higher-moisture manure in 2026, following the practices adopted in Japan, the UK, and the Netherlands. Allowing for higher moisture levels could reduce energy use associated with drying processes, promoting overall efficiency.