Through this initiative, it will be able to cut 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), said the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA).
MAFRA said it was promoting the conversion of livestock manure into renewable energy, in response to the growing renewable energy demand and to reduce environmental burdens.
This announcement comes after MAFRA successfully conducted test combustion of livestock manure solid fuel in 2024 and 2025 to verify its feasibility for large-scale power plants.
“Livestock manure solid fuel is an effective alternative that reduces environmental burdens such as livestock odour, substitutes coal, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. We will enhance both field applicability and economic viability to expand sustainable regional resource recycling systems.”
The ministry expects the conversion of livestock manure to solid fuel to reach 1.18 million tonnes per year by 2030.
This would generate electricity for 38,000 households annually and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 500,000 tonnes per year, an equivalent of emissions from 360,000 vehicles.
According to the plan, it will scale up the use of manure-based solid fuel at large power plants, with commercial generation set to begin in 2026.
Supporting the transition
To start, production facilities in Suncheon and Gimje will supply about 10,000 tonnes per year.
Based on power plant simulations and long-term combustion tests, authorities aim to expand fuel consumption to 660,000 tonnes annually by 2029 and increasing to 1 million tonnes by 2030.
Support measures will include upgrades to power plant infrastructure, such as the installation of dedicated storage silos and sealed fuel transfer systems.
Demand is expected to grow through the deployment of manure-only energy systems at agricultural and industrial sites, including greenhouses, feed mills and meat processing facilities.
Initially, solid fuel boilers will be provided free of charge to farms currently using electric boilers, in cooperation with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
The government also plans to work with feed companies, meat processors and power producers to establish combined heat and power facilities using livestock manure solid fuel by 2030.
To ensure stable supply, MAFRA plans to expand production capacity to 25 solid fuel facilities by 2030, including nine sites already under construction in regions such as Suncheon, Gimje, Bonghwa, Goheung and Andong.
Existing composting and manure treatment facilities will be used to accelerate deployment, with nationwide feasibility and capacity assessments due to be completed by 2026.
The ministry also plans to broaden fuel testing beyond cattle manure, a move expected to increase the number of power plants using livestock manure solid fuel from three to eight by 2028.
To broaden the range of manure that can be converted into energy, authorities are also working with the Ministry of Environment to relax technical standards for solid fuel production.
Improving quality
At the same time, the ministry will work to improve the quality of livestock manure-based solid fuel by tightening collection practices, expanding reuse of combustion by-products and easing technical standards to allow a wider range of manure to be used for energy generation.
While manure collection timelines will be shortened to from eight months to three, which would help ensure manure meets fuel production requirements.
When it comes to the by-products, MAFRA intends to revise regulations to allow the ash to be reused as compost or fertiliser feedstock, providing clearer disposal pathways for power producers.
Furthermore, Korea is eye opportunities to phosphorus from combustion ash, creating higher-value products and potential new income streams.
Similar approaches are already in use overseas, including in Japan, where companies recover phosphorus from ash and sell it as fertiliser, generating annual revenues of 600 million to KRW1.3bn while reducing reliance on imported phosphorus.
MAFRA also plans to conduct test combustion of higher-moisture manure in 2026, in line with practices already adopted in countries such as Japan, the UK and the Netherlands.
Allowing higher moisture levels would lessen the energy use from drying equipment.
