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Base de Datos de Proyectos de PDR

Implementation of a Biogas Plant in the Iasi Agrizoo Farm

Summary

The EAFRD supported a farm in setting up a 130 KW biogas plant to produce heat and electricity from the fermentation of livestock manure. The goal was to reduce the farm’s energy costs and gas emissions while adding value to its animal waste.

Background

The RDP supported the establishment of micro-biogas plants in the Basilicata Region in Italy, a technology that produces heat and electricity from the fermentation of livestock manure. With 720 cows and 230 calves,“Iasi” farm’s ordinary management of livestock manure represented a problem both at logistic and agronomic levels. Processing manure became an opportunity for income diversification by producing renewable clean energy.

Objective

The main purpose of this project was to turn animal waste into an opportunity for energy savings and income diversification. Also, trading dairy products has become more and more competitive and the farm needed to devise a strategy to reduce its costs and diversity its revenue. Converting manure into a new source of income constituted an important innovation for the farm.

Main activities

The main activities included the establishment of a 130 KW biogas plant. The plant consisted of an electronically controlled anaerobic digester system, producing biogas that feeds a heat/electric power generator. Heat is used by the farm to cover all of its domestic needs and excess electricity is sold to the local utility company.

Results & Benefits

The daily energy farm consumption is about 800 KW per hour. The investment helped the farm to become self-sufficient, reducing its energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. During seasons of peak electricity demand, the production of renewable energy from manure fermentation will be supplemented by a 20 KW wind micro-turbine.

Lessons learnt

Farmers will be more likely to adopt environmental sustainability best practices if they can see some potential economic advantage, as in the case of the renewable energy produced from the fermentation of livestock manure. It is a win-win situation that can help them reduce their carbon footprint and at the same time solve their manure management and high energy costs problems.

Project location and other information

Contrada Zaffirro, 85023, Forenza, Potenza Province, Basilicata Region, Italy. Farm location on google maps: https://maps.google.it/maps?q=%2B40%C2%B0+50'+53.57%22,+%2B15%C2%B0+54'+11.38%22+(40.848213,+15.903161)&rlz=1C1LENP_enIT487IT487&aq=f&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=it&sa=N&tab=wl

Region

Basilicata

RDP Territory

Basilicata

Total project cost (€)

602 512

EAFRD contribution (€)

199 953

Private contribution (€)

402 559

Contact name

Rocco Iasi and Luigi Iasi

Telephone

+39 0971773396

Languages for contact

Italian

At a glance

Country

Italy

Final beneficiary type

Individual farmers, Other

Budget range

> €500 000

Start date:

15/11/2011

End Date:

31/12/2013

Theme / Measure:

• Rural Quality of Life & Economic Diversification
• Rural economic diversification
• 311. Diversification into non-agricultural activities

Keywords:

Bioenergy, Renewable energy, Cattle, Manure management, Energy efficiency

Last update

26/09/2013