Korea Electric Power Co., Ltd. of KEPCO has reportedly inked an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Gyeongsangbuk-do to encourage the advancement of technology and to manufacture environmentally sustainable manure (fuel) by using livestock manure in the region. Under this MOU, KEPCO will run a cogeneration testbed that generates required heat and power by using solid fuel made from livestock manure. On the other hand, Gyeongsangbuk-do will promote the production of technologies to convert livestock manure into fuels. According to sources familiar with the knowledge of the matter, the budget for carrying out this research project will be 4 billion won ($3.4 million) and the project will be continued for three years from 2020. Gyeongsangbuk-do Agricultural Technology Institute and Gyeongsangbuk-do Livestock Research Institute, and KEPCO Electric Power Research Institute will contribute as joint research institutes in this project. As Gyeongsangbuk-do province produces over 8 million tons of animal manure every year, the region is in a dire need of technological development to treat the same. The region, therefore, also took action in January to change the paradigm of animal manure treatment and currently developing projects to foster the livestock manure solid fuel industry. On the other hand, KEPCO has a cogeneration technology that can provide heat and power and technology that reduces harmful materials in the exhaust gas emitted during energy generation to allow the environmentally friendly use of solid animal manure fuel. Sources cite that through a joint research project with Gyeongsangbuk-do, KEPCO expects to produce 360,000 tons of solid fuel per year using 1.35 million tons of livestock manure. KEPCO will also be able to participate in the creation and possible national implementation of environmental problems caused by animal manure. The signing ceremony for the project was attended by 20 people, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo and KEPCO President Kim Jong-gap. Source Credit -Â https://www.fntimes.com/html/view.php?ud=20200819100125966455469ec131_18
