Japan's Dairy Farmers Unlock Energy Potential of Cow Manure
Source: dairynews.today
Japanese researchers have successfully converted cattle manure into biogas, significantly impacting the country's carbon footprint.
Japanese researchers have harnessed cattle manure’s latent energy potential, successfully converting this agricultural by-product into biogas, which has helped reduce the agricultural industry’s carbon footprint.
The island of Hokkaido, home to over 800,000 dairy cows, is now a growing source of biogas, further bolstered by the efforts of the Shikaoi Environmental Preservation Centre. Established in 2007, the Centre processes cattle manure into an odourless liquid fertiliser dubbed ‘digestate’, as well as biogas. In 2015, Japan's Ministry of the Environment launched the Shikaoi Hydrogen Farm, making Japan the first country to produce hydrogen gas from manure, aiming to build a sustainable hydrogen energy supply chain from production to usage.
Senior manager Tomohiro Inoue emphasized promoting decarbonization of hydrogen production by employing renewable energy like biogas. Today, 140 biogas plants operate across Hokkaido, allowing farmers to cut production costs, fuel daily farm operations, and charge lower electricity bills. Professor Shiho Ishikawa of Hokkaido University explains the concept of 'circulation farming', highlighting that renewable energy from manure significantly contributes to powering local households.
The island of Hokkaido, home to over 800,000 dairy cows, is now a growing source of biogas, further bolstered by the efforts of the Shikaoi Environmental Preservation Centre. Established in 2007, the Centre processes cattle manure into an odourless liquid fertiliser dubbed ‘digestate’, as well as biogas. In 2015, Japan's Ministry of the Environment launched the Shikaoi Hydrogen Farm, making Japan the first country to produce hydrogen gas from manure, aiming to build a sustainable hydrogen energy supply chain from production to usage.
Senior manager Tomohiro Inoue emphasized promoting decarbonization of hydrogen production by employing renewable energy like biogas. Today, 140 biogas plants operate across Hokkaido, allowing farmers to cut production costs, fuel daily farm operations, and charge lower electricity bills. Professor Shiho Ishikawa of Hokkaido University explains the concept of 'circulation farming', highlighting that renewable energy from manure significantly contributes to powering local households.
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