Netherlands to spend €150 million converting farm manure into energy

Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs is making 150 million euros available next year to turn farm manure into energy. The money will go towards realizing 200 so-called mono manure digesters, which turns manure into renewable energy like biogas, electricity and heat. "With the construction of mono manure digesters we hit several birds with one stone", Kamp said at the official implementation of the first mono digester in Hinnaard, Friesland. "We are able to use manure for renewable energy production, which contributes to the goal of achieving 14 percent renewable energy by 2020 An average digester provides sufficient gas and electricity for about 40 households. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions from manure are avoided, which contributes to reducing CO2 emissions." The Minister opened a separate system for mono manure digesters within the SDE+ - the incentive for renewable energy. The system is similar to that for offshore wind turbines. It has a budget of 150 million euros, which will be paid over the life of the projects and is dependent on the energy supplied and energy prices.