Video conference with the Philippines Climate Change Commission

MEETING MINUTE
A Best Practice Case of Commercial Food Waste Biogas Plant in Taichung
Waipu Green Energy Ecological Par
1. Date and Time： March 2, 2023 (10:00 am)
2. Invited: Climate Change Commission of the Philippines.
3. Chairperson ： Mr. Chen Hung-Yi, Director-General, Environmental Protection
Bureau, Taichung City Government, Taiwan.
4. Consultant: Prof. Dr. Chu Chen-Yeon, Feng Chia University.
5. Moderator: Ms. Alicia Sinsuw, Researcher, Institute of Green Products (IGP), Feng
Chia University, Taiwan.
6. Video software and connection: Cisco Webex Meetings
7. Attendees:
Name Organization Status
Mr. Albert P. Dela Climate Change Commission, Commissioner
Cruz Philippines
Mr. Bryan Ian Climate Change Commission, Vice-president
Montances Philippines
Mr. Atty Roland Climate Change Commission, Vice-president
Cuevas. Philippines
Mr. Tracy Cabrera Climate Change Commission, Production Specialist
Philippines
Mr. Mike Climate Change Commission, Vice-president
Camacho Philippines
Mr. Sam Paete Climate Change Commission, Vice-president
Philippines
Mr. Jeremy Ponce Climate Change Commission, Vice-president
Philippines
Mrs. Maria Climate Change Commission, Vice-president
Corazon Bacani Philippines
Chi-Ming Peng Taichung City Government, Taiwan Taiwan Climate Partnership,
CEO
Huang, Ching- Taichung City Government Counselor
Hsiao Sustainable Development and Low-
carbon City Promoting Office
Chuang, Yun-Jung Taichung City Government Secretary
Sustainable Development and Low-
carbon City Promoting Office
Chen, Yu-Fang Taichung City Government Member
Sustainable Development and Low-
carbon City Promoting Office
Chung, Yi-Jia Taichung City Government Translator
Sustainable Development and Low-
carbon City Promoting Office
Mr. Chen Hung-Yi Environmental Protection Bureau, General Director
Taichung City Government.
Mr. Chiang Ming- Environmental Protection Bureau, Chief Secretary
Shan Taichung City Government.
Ms. Gao Ya-Chi Environmental Protection Bureau, Specialist of cleaning units
Taichung City Government. of the management division
Ms. Chou Fang- Environmental Protection Bureau, Supervisor of Daan District
Chen Taichung City Government.
Ms. Du Ming-Fei Environmental Protection Bureau, Section Leader
Taichung City Government.
Mr. Chen Shi-Ying Environmental Protection Bureau, Subdivision of waste
Taichung City Government. management division
Mr. Huang Jian Grand Forest Green Energy Co., Ltd. Special Assistant of the
Yuan Taiwan Chairman
Mr. Guo Shih Grand Forest Green Energy Co., Ltd. Senior Specialist
Syun Taiwan
Mr. Lee Chang- Grand Forest Green Energy Co., Ltd. Factory Director
 Ying Taiwan
Diana Victoria Institute of Green Products (IGP), Minutes taker
Arellano Yasaca Feng Chia University, Taiwan

8. Meeting starts at: 10:05

9. Agenda
Time Agenda Person in Charge
9:50 ~ 10:00
All Participants Registration Conference Moderator

Introduction to video conference participants

1. Bureau of Environmental Protection,
10:00 ~ 10:05
Taichung City Government, Taiwan Conference Moderator
2. The Climate Change Commission,
Philippines
10:05 ~ 10:15 Welcome Speech by Bureau of Environmental Director-General:
Protection, Taichung City Government, Taiwan Mr. Chen Hung-Yi
10:15 ~ 10:25 Welcome Speech by the Climate Change Commissioner: Mr. Albert
Commission, Philippines P. Dela Cruz
1. Promotional video appreciation
2. A Best Practice Case of Commercial Food 1. Conference Moderator
10:25 ~ 11:00 Waste Biogas Plant in Taichung Waipu Green 2. Grain Forest Green
Energy Ecological Park Energy Co., Ltd.
Presenter: The Special Assistant of Chairman: Taiwan
Mr. Huang Jian-Yuan
11:00 ~ 11:30
Panel Discussion Conference Moderator

11:30 Closing Remark Conference Moderator

9.1. Agenda Item 2

Moderator: Installs the meeting giving a warm welcome to the presents, introduces the
participants from Taichung City Government, Taiwan; Taichung City Government Sustainable
Development and Low-carbon City Promoting Office; Environmental Protection Bureau,
Taichung City Government, Taiwan; Grand Forest Green Energy Co., Ltd. Taiwan; and the
consultant of the project. Later, let the participants from Climate Change Commission,
Philippines, introduce themselves.

9.2. Agenda Item 3

Mr. Chen Hung-Yi, Director-General of the Environmental Protection Bureau, Taichung City
Government, gives to participants a very welcoming speech, where he thanks the presence of
everyone, emphasizing the following points:
 Addressing waste by governments creates opportunities for resource recycling and
developing bioenergy, like the Environmental Protection Bureau of Taichung City
Government Taichung is doing in Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park in Taichung since
2018.
 Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park is an anaerobic fermentation biogas power plant in
Taiwan that uses the raw kitchen as the substrate of anaerobic digestion. Currently,
around 9,000 degrees of green electricity per day is being generated, in terms of money is
equivalent to around 1,500 US dollars per day.
 Also clarifies that one of the objectives of the meeting is to show to the participant the
implementation of the biogas plant and its maintenance and operation.

9.3. Agenda Item 4

Commissioner Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz includes in his welcome speech the importance of
working as “natural partners” of Taiwan, referring to its geographical proximity.
He is pleased to get Taiwan collaboration based on common interests. He cites several successful
collaborations in agriculture and in the automotive area.
He augurs successful, meaningful, and fruitful cooperation since both the Philippines and Taiwan
are strongly democratic governments, and the ideology and culture are compatible between both
countries.
In addition, he introduces one by one, his colleagues who are participating in the Philippines side
meeting.

9.4. Agenda Item 5

The Special Assistant of the Chairman, Mr. Huang, Jian-Yuan presents a promotional video
appreciation of Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park in Taichung and a presentation.
First, Mr. Huang, Jian-Yuan explains some highlights:
 Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park uses uncooked food waste to produce bioenergy,
like peel, vegetables, coffee grains, and tea leaves.
 The construction of Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park was directed to address
problems such as the waste of resources and social problems through the applications of
old and aged technologies like municipal incinerators.
 The strategies used were to improve the existing Waipu Plant by introducing private
investment and developed technology. It created local jobs opportunity and promoted the
local economy.
 The adoption of an Anaerobic Digestion Plan achieved a triple-win success, among the
government, residents, and investors.
 This project was established as a Public-Private Partnership project. The construction and
operation were divided into two phases:
 From 2017 to 2019: planning, design, licensing, and construction.
 From 2022-2042: Operation and maintenance.
 Waipu Plant receives food waste that is separated. Before the anaerobic digestion, the
food waste passes through the buffer and hydrolysis tank. The anaerobic digestion
process produces biogas and digestate. Biogas is sent to the biogas power generator and
the digestate is separated into solid and liquid fractions that are used as fertilizers. Part of
the biogas is used to heat Anaerobic Digestion Process.
 In total 54000 tons of kitchen waste per year are being collected, which generates 783
kWh of energy per year.
 105 tons of food waste feed the anaerobic digestion plant, which is 90% of the plant’s
capacity. This produces an average of 9070 kWh of energy per day.
 In terms of money, the Taichung government has received 6’992.057 NTD rebate until
 January 2023.
 In social terms, the relationship with residents has improved since Waipu Green Energy
Ecological Park construction and operation has created employment opportunities for the
62% of the locals.

9.5. Agenda Item 6

In the panel discussion, some questions are addressed.

Question 1.

Q. Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz: What is the estimated cost of the investment of Waipu Green Energy
Ecological Park

A. Mr. Huang, Jian-Yuan: 0.5 billion New Taiwan dollars only for the Plant Construction
(Around 17 million USD), not including kitchen waste collection and transportation.

Question 2.

Q. Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz: We have talked about biodegradable waste, what about non-
biodegradable waste?

A. Prof. Dr. Chu Chen-Yeon: The non-biodegradable waste is treated by the city incinerator
because all the waste is collected from the resident’s houses (including the biodegradable and
non-biodegradable waste), but this is separated at the beginning of the process. However, the
incinerator and non-biodegradable waste are managed by another Taichung city division.

Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz ask to visit the incinerator plant in the next meeting that will be
carried in Taiwan by the end of March 2023.

Question 3.

Q. Could we have the promoting information on this kind of technology in the Philippines,
especially related to the financial and technology mechanism before our visit to Taiwan? Then
we can prepare an offer before the trip.
Also, comparative analysis regarding the different technologies used for this kind of treatment,
analysis of environmental benefits and economic assessment, and financial mechanism.

A. Mr. Huang, Jian-Yuan: These models work with kitchen waste, restaurant rest, etc. It should
be separated from cans, glasses, and plastics. If this separation is not completed accordingly, it
won’t work very well.

Question 3.

Q. Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz: Does this model (Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park) have
already a blueprint business mechanism? Or which is the business Model?

A. Prof. Dr. Chu Chen-Yeon: This project is public and managed by the Taichung City
Government which looks for relations (business partners). The waste recollection is done by the
city government, the transportation by Ecological Park, and the operation is done by a company
called AOT, which will operate the plant for 25 years, then they will transfer the responsibility to
the government. The model business applied is the PPP (Public-Private Partnership).

This project can be implemented in the Philippines in the near future. However, it is not only
about the initial implementation decision but about the policymakers’ decision. He considers it
important to invite the Philippines policymakers to the coming visit to Taiwan. Then also
implement the policy system regarding waste management in Taiwan in the Philippines.

Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz confirms the attendance of at least three or four cities’ Mayor.

9.6. Agenda Item 7

Mr. Huang, Ching-Hsiao gives some closure words:

We are very welcome that you are coming to Taiwan. We will arrange the schedule to have you
in Taichung city one day to take you to Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park and some other
spots. I think that the application of a biogas plant in the Philippines will not be a problem if the
private sector and the government work together to implement this kind of technology. I expect a
very good relationship with the Philippines partners.
10. Meeting ends at: 11:25.