Penang Launches High-impact Waste-to-Energy Centralised Biogas Facility

NIBONG TEBAL, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- The Penang state government has launched a centralised biogas facility in Kampung Valdor, a high-impact waste-to-energy project that transforms livestock waste into renewable electricity.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the facility also provides a long-term solution to environmental challenges linked to pig farming in the state, marking a key milestone in managing livestock waste sustainably and systematically.

“Today marks a significant milestone for Penang in our commitment to addressing challenges in the livestock industry. At the current scale, effective waste management is not optional; it is essential to safeguard air quality, water resources, and community well-being.

“This facility goes beyond simply processing livestock waste into energy; it represents a long-term solution to persistent environmental issues,” he said at the launch ceremony, which was also attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Chan Foong Hin.

Developed by local green infrastructure pioneer Timeless Green Sdn Bhd in partnership with leading engineering firm Minconsult Sdn Bhd, the facility showcases the state government’s commitment to deploying certified, effective technical solutions that safeguard communities while producing clean energy.

Chow said the RM25.9 million project, funded by the private sector, is creating skilled jobs while significantly reducing odour complaints and enhancing environmental stability in the surrounding areas.

He noted that the facility, operational since March 2024 following an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), processes around 120 metric tonnes of waste daily and generated up to 0.6 megawatts of energy during intermittent operations last year.

“At full design capacity, it is capable of generating up to 1.2 megawatts, with 1 megawatt supplied to the national grid. It is also designed to process up to 226,000 metric tonnes of livestock waste annually and produce about 10.5 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy,” he said.

The facility currently serves 20 farms with around 30,000 pigs and can be expanded in the next phase to handle waste from up to 90,000 pigs.

“To date, Penang has 113 pig farms with approximately 89,857 pigs, with Seberang Perai Selatan alone accounting for 44 farms and about 42,277 pigs,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chow said the state government is planning a similar waste-to-energy facility in Kampung Selamat, Seberang Perai Utara, pending a comprehensive assessment.

He said that construction of the Kampung Selamat biogas facility is expected to take one to two years, with operations targeted to begin around 2029, following the same model as the Kampung Valdor facility.

“The physical construction is estimated to take about a year, but the approval process, including the EIA, takes longer. The Kampung Valdor project itself required several years to complete due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the African swine fever outbreak, and EIA approvals,” he explained.

Chow noted that the Kampung Valdor template now serves as a reference to streamline other projects, with the same company prepared to undertake the Kampung Selamat project once agreements are secured with participating breeders.

“The proposed site has already been identified, and the company will proceed to the next phase once all approvals are in place,” he added.

-- BERNAMA