Germany-headed biogas plant operators and technology suppliers EnviTec Biogas AG has revealed that it has begun construction of a 1.2 MWe biogas plant in Candelaria, Quezon Province in the Philippines. The plant will use agricultural residues such as chicken manure, rice straw, and corn stover as feedstock.
In addition to this project under construction we are planning to develop and replicate more projects to help the local farmers addressing the chicken manure disposal problem as well as the environmental issue associated with the burning of rice and corn straw, said Andy Alquiros, President of First Quezon Biogas Corporation (FQBC), the association of local poultry farmers which developed the project in partnership with the Singaporean co-investor Yamato Technologies Pte. Ltd.
The members of the cooperative had approached EnviTec to address the issue of the annually accumulating tonnes of poultry manure through this waste-to-energy pioneering project in the country.
The current project benefits from the subsidies of the Renewable Energy Act passed by the government in 2008. An affordable and reliable energy supply is needed, as there are still energy shortages on this archipelago state, said Marcello Barbato, EnviTec Sales Manager Southeast Asia.
Large potential for biomass and biogas
Philippine energy prices are at an average of about 0.23USD/kWh. This is not only the most expensive in Southeast Asia but comparable also to highly-developed countries such as Japan, according to a target market analysis conducted by the German-Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI).
Thus, the Philippines offer enormous potential for the use of biomass and biogas energy. In addition to the use of animal waste, above all from hog and poultry waste, sugarcane and rice production offer a good source of waste to be used as input material as most of this waste is not used efficiently.
According to the GPCCI, the waste of sugar mills, rice, and coconuts farms shows potential production capabilities of 90, 40 and 20 MW as of 2015. Clean energy plays an integral role in the archipelago state’s climate law, which was drafted as early as 2001.
By 2030, total capacities for renewable energies are to be increased to 15.3 GW, thereby contributing to the country’s energy security. This corresponds to a three-fold increase in 2010 capacity, according to the GPCCI-study.
These and additional in-country sales activities that have taken place over the past three years are now paying off. At present, our requests for offers are increasing and we expect the demand will continue to increase with the just-started construction project, said Barbato.
Seismic quality
According to Barbato, local companies are seeking for sustainable technologies and the brand “Made in Germany” is a guarantee of reliability. The archipelago nation with more than 7 100 islands is a challenge to construction companies due to its major typhoons and seismic activities.
Our reliable concrete tank system is particularly stable and is earthquake proven in seismic zones like in Italy and Japan. The roof construction of the digester is manufactured in such a way that it can withstand wind speeds of over 200 km/hour, said Christian Eilert, EnviTec Technical Sales Manager.
