From livestock waste to clean electricity

Covering an area of 6 hectares along the headwaters of the Cong River (Pho Yen Ward, Thai Nguyen Province), Mr. Tran Xuan Phong's farm operates with a scale of 4,000 finishing pigs per batch, achieving an annual output of 1,000 tonnes of meat.

Since starting operations in 2018, the most challenging problem for him was odor control and waste treatment. Despite trying various measures, the improvements were marginal. Consequently, the farm was compelled to release the effluent directly into the environment and resort to burning off methane gas to slightly alleviate the odor - a stopgap measure that failed to provide a complete solution and simultaneously contributed to further pollution.

A turning point arrived in January 2024 when the farm installed and began operating a biogas generator. This equipment fully utilizes the abundant biogas source from pig manure to convert it into electrical energy.

Mr. Phong shared that the transition has brought about an “dramatic, night-and-day difference” transformation to his farm. “The most remarkable change is that we can now completely manage and eliminate odor problems,” he emphasized. “By making use of the energy already generated on the farm, we estimate that our monthly electricity expenses have been reduced by as much as 50%. This shift not only delivers substantial financial relief but also helps cut greenhouse-gas emissions, contributing meaningfully to environmental protection.”

The generator system, assembled and provided as an operational solution by Chinh Phat Company, was leased and installed at the beginning of last year. The technology operates by capturing biogas from the farm’s pig-waste digesters and converting it into usable electricity.

Essentially, the company places a generator directly at Mr. Phong’s farm, taps into the biogas supply from the digesters to produce electricity, and then sells the generated power back to the farm owner at rates lower than the prevailing market prices during peak and mid-load periods. This model not only supports farmers but also encourages wider adoption of renewable-energy solutions within the livestock sector.

According to Mr. Tong Xuan Chinh, Director of Chinh Phat Company, the decision to lease power generators is intended to help farmers experience the quality of this new generation of equipment, while also easing their financial burden by eliminating the need for a large upfront investment.

“As of now, about 70% of the company’s revenue comes from biogas-based operations, and we have installed roughly 150 systems for farms across the country,” he noted. “We have also begun integrating biogas electricity with other renewable-energy sources such as solar and wind power, which provides a more stable and reliable supply for large-scale livestock farms.”

During system development, Chinh Phat has introduced several Made-in-Vietnam technologies, including a remote-control operating system. “In the coming years, we hope to transfer these technologies and eventually export and commercialize them in Southeast Asian markets and potentially beyond,” Mr. Chinh added.

Chinh Phat is one of the companies that has directly benefited from the Biogas for Pig Farms initiative, a project implemented in Viet Nam under the Australian Government’s Business Partnerships Platform (BPP). Through this partnership model, businesses are encouraged to adopt innovative, climate-friendly technologies that support both commercial growth and sustainable agricultural practices.

The initiative is jointly implemented by E-GREEN, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV, Nexus for Development, HD Bank, STT&T Technical Services Company, Chinh Phat Company, and the Government of Australia. By combining technical expertise, financial support, and on-the-ground implementation capacity, the project has helped reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, lowered energy expenses for participating farms by up to 25 percent, and created additional income opportunities for farmers. Collectively, these results contribute to shaping a more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally responsible livestock sector in Viet Nam.

Australia’s Ambassador to Viet Nam, Gillian Bird, noted that both the Australian and Vietnamese governments have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. “As a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, Australia is proud to stand alongside Viet Nam in its efforts to reduce emissions, optimize energy costs, and expand employment opportunities for farming communities,” Ambassador Gillian Bird emphasized.