Farm Manure as Energy in Green Growth Plan

DENMARK - The Danish government has just launched a DKr 13.5 billion Green Growth plan that will ensure better conditions for the country’s nature and environment while allowing agriculture to develop.

The plan represents a 50 per cent increase in investments compared with previous plans.

One part of the government’s Green Growth plan stipulates that 40 per cent of farm animal mnure must be used for green energy in 2020 and that, in time, all farm animal manure must be used as a source of energy.

Initiatives to reach targets include a fund for starting investments in biogas and a biogas team to co-ordinate biogas activities around the country.

“With the Green Growth plan’s aim of turning agriculture into a supplier of manure for green energy we will be getting positive effect from manure,” says Eva Kjer Hansen.

“We will see growth, because the farmer’s liquid manure will be turned into energy, and at the same time the degassed liquid manure means a reduced seepage of nutrients and lower evaporation of methane - both benefiting the climate and the environment. In fact, this is a win-win situation.”