South Korea Pushes Wastewater-to-Biogas

Scandinavian Biogas (www.scandinavianbiogas.se), a Sweden-based producer of alternative energy, is helping the city of Ulsan, South Korea generate biogas from wastewater, according to a report by the Associated Press (www.ap.org). Currently, the city lets water generated from processing food waste run off into the ocean, which can generate methane gas harmful to the environment. But South Korea is looking for ways to increase the use of biogas and other clean energy alternatives as part of a "green growth" initiative, which has prompted Ulsan to seek a green alternative to its growing wastewater issue.

In addition, the Associated Press reports the dumping of wastewater generated by the processing of leftover food into the sea will be banned from 2013, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime affairs in South Korea.
The Ministry of Environment has also reportedly increased its budget this year for waste energy, including biogas plants, by five times to 178 billion won ($143 million).

These government mandates made the wastewater to biogas initiative a top priority for the city of Ulsan, which is the home of Hyundai Motor Corp. and Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.

The Associated Press reports Scandinavian Biogas is investing about 10 million euros to upgrade a wastewater treatment plant in Ulsan and will soon start accepting food and other waste for processing into biogas.