1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

Biogas in Vietnam

January 15, 2013

A starch factory in Vietnam is capturing methane generated while processing cassava. Instead of damaging the environment, the toxic gas is used to fuel the factory's furnaces.

https://p.dw.com/p/17KK8
Maniokernte, Vietnam teaser gloabalideas ++ Axel Warnstedt ++
Image: Axel Warnstedt

Project goal: Avoiding methane emissions during starch production of cassava; capturing methane and using it as fuel.
Project size: expected income through climate protection certificates each year of $250,000.
Project volume: around $1.4 million
CO2 savings: by avoiding coal, some 3,100 tons of CO2 is saved each year. In addition, the equivalent of 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide is saved by capturing and burning methane.

Vietnam is one of the world's largest cassava producers. The production process generates huge amounts of starch-rich waste water – and when that ferments, it produces methane, a highly toxic climate killer. In fact, the gas is 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. The Daklak Tapioca Factory in central Vietnam is now using the gas to power its operations. The furnaces that were once fueled by coal now run on methane.

A film by Christian Jaburg


Cleaner Vietnam - Biogas from Cassava