The second annual Chinese trade exhibition for Biogas Technology and Management, held last month in Quingdao, China, revealed growing interest in the topic of biogas production throughout the world. Bio-Energy Expo is an integrated event within the larger China Animal Husbandry Exhibition (CAHE) covering five halls or 70,000 square meters (753,480 sq. ft.).

Bio-Energy Expo is jointly organized by the China Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA) and DLG International, a subsidiary of the German Agricultural Society (DLG). Zhang Bao Wen, president of CAAA and former Chinese vice-minister of agriculture, opened the exhibition. “Bio-energy technology is highly sought after by Chinese animal producers as it provides an excellent solution to waste and manure treatment by converting such waste into usable energy. This is especially useful for large-scale livestock farms in China,” he notes.

There is a growing need for modern technology in the field of bioenergy in China, with a focus on biogas, according to Bernd Koch, managing director of DLG International. “Officially there are already more than 5,000 biogas plants in China, and some estimates suggest this figure may be much higher. These can be found mainly on smaller farms. The Chinese Government is now planning to provide financial support for larger biogas plants. We are definitely seeing a booming market for bioenergy in China," Wen explains.

This boom is also reflected in the number of exhibitors at the Bio-Energy Expo. A special pavilion dedicated to bioenergy attracted 25 companies from Germany, Canada, China and the United States. A pre-expo training course covered best practices in biogas purification technology and bio-methane use.