Cow Power in China: World's Largest Cow Manure Project to Produce Energy by Using GE's Jenbacher Biogas Technology

Helping to alleviate China’s energy shortage, GE’s (NYSE: GE) ecomagination-approved Jenbacher biogas engines will power the new Liaoning Huishan Cow Farm, which, once completed, will become world’s largest biogas project based on cow manure.

The manure from the 250,000 cows at the Huishan farm, located in Shenyang, China, will be converted into biogas and is expected to produce 38,000 MWh a year through four GE JMS420 Jenbacher gas engines. The energy generated will be sold to the state grid in China.

One of the features of the project is the utilization of fuel circulation. In addition to the use of biogas for power generation, the liquid (residual from biogas production) will be used to nourish the grass in the pasture, and the solid waste can be sold as organic fertilizer, thus the surrounding land will become a base for organic agriculture.

When the new biogas power generation project is completed, it will be the world's largest cow manure project. It will not only serve China's national economic and environmental development goals, but it also is expected to reduce about 180,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

“The disposal and treatment of biological waste represents a major challenge for the waste industry,” said Mr. Xu Guangyi, vice president of Liaoning Huishan Cow Farm. “GE’s efficient, durable and reliable Jenbacher biogas engines will allow us to face that challenge by maximizing the use of an economical energy supply—cow manure.”

Biogas offers customers several advantages. It provides an alternative disposal of dung, liquid manure and biowaste, while simultaneously harnessing them as an energy source, a substitute for conventional fuels. It also has the high potential for reduction in greenhouse gases and is highly efficient for combined on-site power and heat generation. In addition, the remaining substrate from the digester can be used as high-quality, agricultural fertilizer, characterized by neutralizing the acid effect with a higher ph-value, keeping nutrients retained and nearly odorless.

“Our Jenbacher biogas engines allow us to provide customers with a cost-effective, high-output means of generating power by using waste material from agriculture as an alternative energy source while substantially and measurably reducing emissions,” said Prady Iyyanki, CEO-gas engines for GE Power & Water. “We are glad to be a part of the Huishan gas energy project as China and other countries in Asia seek to harness their own diverse renewable and alternative resources to create cleaner sources of energy.”

The Huishan Cow Farm is scheduled to begin commercial operation in September 2010.