“Agricultural waste management” – when we hear such a loud sentence, we think that it is “about Europe”, and “about us” – taken to the landfill.

Yes or no?

In fact, green energy has already paved the way for the modern life of Ukrainian companies. As many farmers as possible try to use solar panels and windmills in the production process. But biogas, according to the author, is the future of green energy and rural areas. Unlike other energy sources, biogas technologies leave farmers far behind.

First of all, waste is not an accumulating place of unpleasant odors, but it as a source of organic matter. The pig farm of the last century suffered from the stench. Today’s pig farms digest livestock manure through fermenters of biogas plants, which significantly reduces not only the smell, but also the problems around it.

Secondly, animal dung is living money. For example, a traditional 12,000-head pig farm generates 20,000 tons of waste per year, which costs the company $ 3 million to dispose of. With the introduction of biogas technology, the numbers change dramatically. And 20,000 tons of waste are converted into 240,000 cubic meters of methane. After combustion in a cogeneration unit, waste releases 960,000 kWh of electricity and about 1,000,000 kWh of heat per year.

In the end, after all the manipulations we get 20,000 tons of high-quality organic fertilizer Digestat©, which can naturally improve the performance of the humus layer, and with it the properties of the crop.

And now let’s count.

  • UAH 3 million - funds saved for recycling
  • UAH 2.98 million - cost of 960,000 kW of electricity (tariff UAH 3.1 per kW)
  • UAH 0.8 million - the cost of 1,000,000 kW of heat (in terms of natural gas UAH 0.8 per kW)
  • UAH 2.6 million - cost of 18,000 tons of Digestat fertilizer (in terms of active substance equivalent of mineral fertilizers)

In the end, we see that the latest solution to the issue of agricultural balances brings in 9.38 million annual gross profit. And whether there is a waste management in Ukraine, you can make up your own mind.

Author: Вадим Кричковський.