A biogas plant fueled largely by chicken manure was launched at a poultry farm south of Berlin on Friday, according to dpa. Some 10 million euros (14.5 million dollars) was invested in the project, which is expected to meet the energy requirements of 4,600 households when it becomes fully operational. Located at Gut Mennewitz near Koethen, 100 kilometres south of the German capital, the innovative plant has been designed to produce heat and fertilizer as well as electricity. Some 70 per cent of the energy comes from chicken manure and the remainder from corn and grass silage. The project is intended to serve as a model for the egg and poultry industry, said Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, whose department stumped up almost 10 per cent of the cost. It is an advancement on other biogas plants which can only use a maximum 30 per cent of chicken droppings because of their high nitrogen content, which can pollute the water. The new plant is equipped with a separator that filters nitrogen, sand and nutrients from the faeces, allowing it to process more than double previous amounts. The nutrients are converted into fertilizers. The farm contains two plants, each housing 35,000 chickens that produce 25,000 tons of droppings a year. The energy produced from the biogas plant will be used to provide electricity for the farm buildings as well as local administration offices in Koethen, said Gut Mennewitz managing director Ulrich Wagner.
