Pig waste powers UK homes

Organic waste, produced by pigs on a farm in Leicestershire, UK, is helping to power an estimated 700 homes and reduce landfill waste by 18,000 tonnes each year.

The pig waste, combined with other food waste, is being used to produce biogas capable of generating the equivalent of around 1.2 MW of electricity. UK company PROjEN BioEnergy developed the technology used to convert the waste into energy, which uses a process called anaerobic digestion (whereby natural bacteria are used to treat biodegradable materials).

The electricity produced is being exported onto the local energy grid used to power homes as well as the pig farming facility. Other benefits include a reduction in the farm’s carbon emissions by offsetting electricity and heating consumption; a reduction in waste and by-products destined for landfill and incineration; and the production of high-quality pasteurised fertiliser, which helps to minimise the risks of foodborne diseases such as Listeria and Salmonella.

PROjEN was honoured earlier this month by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) at its annual award ceremony to celebrate innovation and excellence in chemical engineering across the world. IChemE’s chief executive, David Brown, said PROjEN’s work “shows the potential of chemical engineering to transform discarded waste into valuable commodities to benefit industries like farming”.

“The benefits from just one farm are impressive,” he continued. “With an estimated four million pigs in the UK alone, producing millions of tonnes of by-products each year, the potential for energy production, from a sustainable source, is significant.”