Jeju City’s public livestock manure treatment facility, which processes organic waste to produce biogas and electricity. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will begin a large-scale push to convert livestock waste into renewable energy, seeking to cut greenhouse gas emissions while reducing environmental burdens from animal farming.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Monday that it will expand the use of solid fuel made from livestock manure, aiming to convert 1.18 million metric tons annually by 2030.
The initiative is expected to generate enough electricity to power about 38,000 households each year and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 500,000 metric tons.
The plan follows pilot combustion tests conducted in 2024 and 2025 to determine whether manure-based solid fuel could be used safely and efficiently at large power plants. Based on those results, the government will formally roll out the program this year.
Officials said the strategy will focus on improving fuel quality, expanding demand, and increasing production capacity. Livestock waste will be collected within three months to maintain quality, while ash left after combustion will be recycled as fertilizer material.
The ministry will also test methods to process high-moisture waste, including demonstration projects involving manure with moisture content below 50 percent.
In South Korea, efforts are underway to turn cattle manure into fuel as a way to ease water pollution while also cutting carbon dioxide emissions that drive climate change. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
To boost demand, the government plans to upgrade power plant facilities so that annual consumption of manure-based solid fuel reaches 1 million tons by 2030.
The number of power generators capable of using the fuel will rise from three to eight by 2028. Dedicated boilers and combined heat-and-power systems will also be introduced at agricultural and industrial sites.
Production capacity will be expanded through the construction of 25 solid fuel facilities by 2030, with standardized processes developed using existing composting infrastructure to improve supply stability and cost efficiency.
A ministry official said manure-based solid fuel offers a practical alternative to coal, helping cut emissions while easing environmental pressures on livestock farming.
The government aims to strengthen on-site viability and economic feasibility to build a sustainable waste-to-energy system nationwide.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
