Biodigester almost ready to produce energy
The Earth Centre facilities manager, Giacomo Pinna, shed light on the progress of the biodigester.
What started as an idea and transitioned into a proposal is now on the brink of reality.
The Earth Centre took a decision early this year to invest in green energy in order to reduce costs.
With help from sponsors such as Exxaro, a mining company, and the South African National Energy Development Institute, the organisation was able to make their wish for a biodigester become a reality.
A pleased Earth Centre facilities manager, Giacomo Pinna, indicated that the biodigester plant was in its final stage of construction.
In his elaboration on the plant’s progress, he said, “The structure of the biodigester has been finished; it’s been plastered from the outside and little bit in the inside for water protection so that water doesn’t run out,” he said.
“Inside there’s something like a blue bag which is called the sausage, into which all the products will go,” he explained.
Since the biodigester requires animal waste to produce gas, Pinna said as a start they will be using cow manure which was donated to them. “We are mixing the cow manure on a 1:1 ratio with water to start filling the bag to begin the process. As soon as all the bacteria have developed and the process started, we are going to use horse manure,” he explained, adding that it might take them about two to four weeks to start using their own horse manure.
As the entire process leads to the production of energy, Pinna said it would probably take about two months for the biodigester to start producing energy. He mentioned that the piping which runs from the plant and produces the gas has been laid to carry the energy to the kitchen, where it will be used.
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