December 26, 2006

Pig waste to power 90,000 homes in North Carolina

Hog farms in North Carolina, US could produce enough electricity to power more than 90,000 homes, according to a study financed by the state's Utilities Commission.

North Carolina has over 6 million pigs. According to the study by LaCapra Associates, the amount of pig waste, which is able to generate methane gas, would produce an estimated 93 megawatts of power. One megawatt can serve the needs of about 1,000 homes.

Hog waste has been a contentious issue in the state, particularly in eastern North Carolina where many of the swine farms operate. The state has put a moratorium on new hog farms while it and the largest pork producers look for affordable alternatives to the open pits where the waste is now dumped.

Using it to generate energy might be one alternative, said Molly Diggins, director of the state branch of the Sierra Club.

Making the proposal work could be challenging, according to Leonard Bull, deputy director of the animal waste research centre at North Carolina State University.

Though some technologies show promise, there could be difficulty in connecting to the electrical grid, Bull said. Becoming a power producer would be a slow and laborious process, he felt.