Up to 10,000 rural farmers in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), more commonly known as North Korea, will be able to keep their crops and livestock alive through the harsh winter.
Up to 10,000 rural farmers in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), more commonly known as North Korea, will be able to keep their crops and livestock alive through the harsh winter. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), in partnership with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), have implemented a technology trial that will enable rural households to produce adequate energy for their own essential requirements.
The project will use biogas plants, a widely used process for energy production around the world, to produce a year-round energy supply. Biogas is a biological process that utilizes the cycles in nature that produce energy. This process has been used in the past, however, the production of gas often ceases in winter as the temperature in the plant falls below 59ºF (15ºC), the minimum temperature for efficient biogas production.
“The greatest obstacle to widespread biogas use throughout the DPRK is the harsh winter. Currently, existing digester tanks are not insulated and are partially above ground, meaning they lose a considerable amount of energy production in winter or production stops entirely,” said Marcel Wagner, country director for ADRA DPRK.
The newly installed biogas plants will utilize both anaerobic processes for the fermentation process and aerobic processes to naturally heat and insulate. Insulating the biogas plant and placing the “digester” in a greenhouse also increases efficiency. The greenhouse allows the family to extend the growing seasons of food within the greenhouse or keep animals warm during the winter months. It is the first household plant in DPRK working year-round without additional heating required.
“Our research has indicated that this project will benefit participants in a number of ways,” Wagner added. “It will allow them to save money through substitution of energy from fossil fuels, avoid the cost of waste disposal, improve manure management, reduce the water polluting potential of wastes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase access to local, reliable energy, and improve food security throughout the year.”
The pilot project was funded by ADRA Switzerland in collaboration with the Flood Damage Rehabilitation Committee (FDRC). ADRA is present in more than 120 countries providing individual and community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age or ethnicity. Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.
