USM launches mini biogas energy plant to generate electricity from campus food waste

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GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) yesterday launched a mini biogas energy plant capable of generating 600 kilowatt of electricity a day from food waste in the campus.

USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Omar Osman said the pioneer project carried out in cooperation with the university’s industry partner, Enerbon Sdn Bhd, was aimed at building a prototype plant for use by interior communities which had problems of obtaining regular electricity supply.

“Food waste provided by all cafeterias and canteens in the campus will be converted into methane which will in turn be used to generate electricity,” he told reporters after launching the plant here yesterday.

He said the plant had two tanks which could accommodate 400 kilogrammes of food and organic waste such as grass and the electricity could be channeled to the university’s power supply grid. — Bernama

Omar said after the electricity generation process, the resulting waste in the plant could be processed as fertiliser for use by USM Landscaping Department.

He said the plant was designed according to industrial standard but it could also be modified into a smaller version to suit a community of 500 people. — Bernama