Netherlands plant to convert poultry litter to electricity

2008-09-13 12:52 AM

Geo Energy Network
Chaguanas, TX
Posts: 39

Biomass Magazine – September 12, 2008

A power plant has recently been opened in Moerdijk, The Netherlands, to generate renewable energy using wastes from the poultry industry. The plant is one of the first power stations of its kind in Europe, and will convert 485,000 tons of poultry litter, more than one-third of that nation’s manure stocks, into renewable electricity.

The plant is co-owned by Netherlands-based Delta N.V., a multi-utility company which will sell the electricity produced at the facility. Peter Couwenberg, corporate communications director at Delta, told Biomass Magazine that Delta holds a 50 percent ownership stake in the facility. The other 50 percent of the plant’s ownership is split between a 629-member Netherlands poultry farmer cooperative and Austrian Energy and Environment. The poultry cooperative will supply all of the poultry litter to the facility. Austrian Energy, a supplier of energy generation systems, built the plant together with Siemens AG, a Germany-based global engineering firm.

“We have to innovate to be able to generate renewable energy that is affordable. It takes time and money but it is essential for our future,” said Peter Boerma, Delta’s chief executive officer, adding that a mix of different energy sources is necessary to meet growing demand while taking corporate responsibility seriously.

Couwenberg said the Moerdijk facility will produce 36.5 million megawatts of electricity annually and will sell the phosphor and potassium-rich ash byproduct as fertilizer. The $210 million facility will employ approximately 25 people. He also noted that the facility will be carbon neutral because carbon dioxide emissions from the plant will be equal to what would be emitted if the litter were used as manure in fields.

Read Full Article: Netherlands plant to convert poultry litter to energy - Biomass Magazine