Pork is king in Vietnam – the country is Asia’s second-largest pork producing country and the 6th largest in the world. Also, pork is the most consumed meat in Vietnam. It’s an industry that is nowhere close to slowing down. From 2021 to 2022, the total number of pigs in Vietnam grew by 11.4%. In 2023, the industry is expected to grow by about 5.5%. However, with this growth, comes increasing challenges.

Pig farming—a major player in global environmental issues

Pigs are a vital part of the  Vietnamese livestock industry, but nearly half of their untreated manure is released directly into the environment. Pig farms pollute rivers and streams, endangering large rivers that provide drinking water to tens of millions of Vietnamese. More pork on the table means more livestock waste in the environment. 

The effects on Vietnam’s water supply aren’t limited to contamination, pig farming also consumes a lot of water. Farmers in Vietnam use approximately 30-40 liters of water per pig per day for cooling and cleaning, with the pig industry annually producing about 300 million cubic meters of dirty water – the equivalent of 120,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools

Over the last few decades, stricter regulations for manure storage and spreading have reduced the environmental impact of livestock production and manure management. However, to comply with regulations, many pig owners must pay waste treatment companies to manage pig manure, and larger facility owners may need to invest in their own treatment equipment. When untreated waste is not properly disposed of, environmental authorities fine farmers between $5,000 and $10,000 – putting farmers in constant fear of fines or having their livestock permits revoked.

70% of farms rely on diesel generator backup during power outages, which is unreliable and polluting. They can only run for 1-2 hours until they run out of fuel. [Source: EGreen] Aside from the greenhouse gas emissions that come from these energy sources, there are also emissions that come from the pig’s manure. 

For Vietnamese pig farmers who have waste to process and want better energy security, biogas presents an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. However, farmers face many barriers to actually using the technology: a lack of mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge; the requirement of remote management and operation methods because farms are frequently located far apart and away from residential areas; and weather affects biogas production, to name a few.

How EGreen Works With Farmers

However, EGreen has come up with solutions to help farmers overcome the different barriers. The company converts traditional diesel generators into biogas generators that are easily managed from farmers’ smartphones or computers. 

For farmers with a lack of knowledge to operate the generators on their own, EGreen recently adapted its business model from one that sells biogas digesters to an energy service company (ESCO) model. A contract is made with farmers under the ESCO model in which they guarantee energy savings and pay the penalty if the savings are not realized. Now, farmers can have a biogas generator without bearing the upfront capital cost, pay 25-30% less for electricity from renewable sources, and access free maintenance services. This change also helped EGreen reduce its sales time per unit – the average sale time reduced from over 2 months to 15-20 days. 

To help those who use the biogas generator for cooking, EGreen has introduced three biogas purification systems that can improve efficiency and be directly integrated into their generators. Users do not have to be concerned about burning or biogas gas leaking into the environment, avoiding atmospheric pollution. The company is also working with partners like Nexus for Development to tap into carbon credits and promote sustainable financial incentives for users of this solution.

The Impact of EGreen’s Technology

Compared to diesel generators’ limited use, EGreen generators can operate for 8 hours a day. Additionally, farmers can save up to $20,000 per year on their electricity bills, while no longer worrying about fines or having their livestock permits withdrawn.    

Since joining WE4F, EGreen has installed 35 biogas-powered generator systems with a total installed capacity of 3.5MW in 2022. They have also impacted a new 12,000 end-users, of which 5,500 are women. Generators in use by these end-users have saved more than 2.68 million kilowatt-hours of energy, produced 9,200 tons of food, and saved more than 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

70% of farms rely on diesel generator backup during power outages, which is unreliable and polluting. They can only run for 1-2 hours until they run out of fuel. [Source: EGreen] Aside from the greenhouse gas emissions that come from these energy sources, there are also emissions that come from the pig’s manure. 

For Vietnamese pig farmers who have waste to process and want better energy security, biogas presents an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

The support focused on institutional and retail models for sale to households, while including a focus on integrating women in the marketing approach. The team also introduced EGreen to local government departments to demonstrate and sell the purifiers to low-income households, who cannot always access the retailers and distributors.

The road ahead

Biogas is a carbon-neutral and effective waste management technology. It is also an income-generating and cost-saving technology for farming households in low-income countries. 2023 promises to be a year of EGreen milestones and new initiatives. The company aspires to be a leading energy solutions provider in Southeast Asia, with the promise of cleaner air and combating climate change through its ESCO model and biogas purification products. This is possible with the path it is on and with the support of various partners.  

Visit https://we4f.org/innovators/egreen for more information on EGreen’s innovation.