VC Group Swine Farm case study0 pages

ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Guascor® Engines and Gen-sets

CHP Installation Running On Biogas
Case Study

The Opportunity
Biogas, a clean and renewable
form of energy, could very
well provide a substitute for
conventional fossil fuel sources
of energy, such as oil or coal,
which are causing ecological and
environmental problems. At the
same time, traditional fossil fuel
availability varies by region and is
diminishing for Thailand.
Biogas is produced by the
fermentation of biodegradable
materials such as sewage, manure,
waste water from livestock farms,
and industrial plants.

The Solution
Napier grass is familiar to Thai farmers and has been around for more
than 30 years. However, processing grass to obtain biogas fuel for power
generation is new.
The grass is mixed with organic waste and pig manure in one
fermentation tank. Through the breakdown and fermentation, an
anaerobic digestion process results in biogas. For example, one metric
ton of napier grass/waste mixture can generate 90 cubic meters of
biogas, and can be converted into 170 KW/day electricity.
The VCF Group Swine Farm, located in Ratchabury, Thailand, has 70,000
pigs, which generate approximately 2,520 cubic meters of manure
each day. The farm uses biogas as a fuel to operate the Dresser-Rand
generating set which harnesses electric power.
Dresser-Rand installed its Guascor® HGM560 gas generating set that
provides 1.2 eMW of power.
Converting livestock manure into a renewable fuel source like biogas can
help meet renewable energy requirements and reduce GHG emissions.
In addition, the project generates electricity that can be sold to the grid,
a great advantage to investors.

Engineers in Thailand have studied
how to develop the potential of
local energy crops as alternative
materials for biogas production.
As an agricultural country with
a climate that suits numerous
“energy creating” crops, Thailand
is investigating the advantages of
using these crops. Napier grass,
in particular, offers great potential
in terms of alternative energy in
Thailand.

Benefits
❚❚ Reduces methane-rich GHG
emissions through anaerobic
digestion
❚❚ Improves the treatment of waste
water
❚❚ Uses biogas as a renewable
energy source
❚❚ Allows electricity to be sold to
the grid