Advanced BioFuels USA

by Bill Hagy (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) How can one determine if an anaerobic digester will provide a value-added economic opportunity as well as an environmental solution for my livestock operation?

There are several factors to consider:

• Size of the farm or ranch operation and manure type
• Location of the farm or ranch operation and the off-take sources
• Ownership of the digester to be constructed
• Financing Sources /Incentives

Size of Farm or Ranch Livestock Operation and Manure Type

There are 8,000 large dairy and hog operations where biogas recovery systems are technically feasible.  A large operation is defined as an operation with a minimum of 500 head of cattle, 2,000 hogs with anaerobic lagoons or liquid slurry manure management systems, or 5,000 hogs with deep pit manure management systems where a minimum of 90 percent of the manure is regularly collected.

Also, smaller operations can partner with other smaller operations by forming a cooperative or similar organization and construct a jointly owned biogas recovery system which may result in a technically feasible system.

In addition to the farm size is your manure management technique compatible with biogas recovery technology?

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Location of the farm or ranch operation and the off-take sources

The location of the farm or ranch operation in proximity to potential off-take sources can determine the type of digester to construct and the off take(s):  renewable nature gas (RNG), compressed nature gas (CNG), combined heat and power, electricity, compost, bedding etc.

The biogas generated for the anaerobic digester can be used to:

Generate electricity to:

• Fuel a reciprocating engine or gas turbine.
• Operate equipment on-farm. For example, dairies operate vacuum pumps, chillers, feed mixers and fans. Hog farms typically operate heat lamps and ventilation equipment.
• Sell to the local power grid.

Be used directly on-farm to fuel boilers or heaters, and in most processes requiring heat, steam, or refrigeration.

           Be processed into higher quality fuels, including:

• Pipeline quality renewable natural gas (RNG)
• Compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel vehicles

Be flared to:

• Control odor
• Reduce greenhouse gas (methane) emissions[1]

Ownership of the digester to be constructed

There are several companies that will construct, operate, and own the digester placed on your livestock operation and share the income derived from sale of the off-take product(s) with the livestock operation owner.

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Financing Sources /Incentives for Digesters

All projects require capital investment, which can be a direct cash contribution from the owner; financed with a loan, or both.  Most digesters are funded through a combination of cash contribution by the owner of the digester and a loan. In cases where a loan is needed, USDA has programs that can support the financing needed.   READ MORE