| Biogas production is achieved as the result of the | | | | new plant does not have a negative impact on the |
| controlled microbial breakdown of organic materials | | | | surrounding environment. Let us assure you that a |
| such as animal manures or food scraps in an | | | | well designed and run biogas plant improves the |
| anaerobic digester. An anaerobic digester is the name | | | | environment significantly and is neither odorous nor |
| of the plant that makes the gas and is operated at a | | | | dangerous. Such plants can be placed near production |
| controlled temperature, pH and loading rate to | | | | facilities which will often be the best customers for |
| encourage the growth of microorganisms that eat | | | | the power and heat produced. |
| the organic matter and produce biogas and a more | | | | Equipment is fitted to the digester plants to suit |
| biologically stable liquid effluent. | | | | climate conditions. The bioreactors have thermal |
| Biogas is a mixture of about 60-70% methane | | | | insulation and are heated by heating and also have a |
| (natural gas), 30-40% carbon dioxide and other trace | | | | cooling system for summer use. In cold winters a |
| gases, such as hydrogen sulfide. The heat content of | | | | biogas plant can consume up to 50% of its produced |
| this gas is based on the amount of methane it | | | | heat power. |
| contains and is about 600 BTUs per cubic foot. | | | | The liquid that results from the anaerobic digestion |
| Anaerobic digesters produce biomethane along with | | | | process has solids which are separated out, |
| electricity generation and saleable end product | | | | composted, and sold to local gardeners, landscapers |
| biosolids which allows animal production enterprises to | | | | and farmers. Some farmers use the solids as bedding |
| become neighborhood and environment friendly, as | | | | for their cows and sell it as bedding to neighbors. The |
| well as producing another revenue flow for | | | | liquids are returned to the farmer as nutrient rich |
| themselves. | | | | natural fertilizer, which replaces imported nutrients |
| Running a biogas plant on a dairy farm works best | | | | and thereby cuts costs. |
| for farms which hold at least 800 cows. Economically | | | | There is an issue, and it is a fallacy, going around that |
| viable ystems for dairies under 800 cow level are | | | | Anaerobic Diesters always smell. We would contest |
| possible, but need evaluation on a farm by farm basis | | | | this. Anaerobic digesters actually tend to alleviate |
| to decide whther there will be adequate cost | | | | odor problems when on a well run, especially as |
| effectiveness. No farm or combinations of farms is | | | | suburban growth surrounds farms and introduces |
| ever likely to be too large for such a system. | | | | neighbors who complain about manure smells most |
| Whether a particular farm, your farm perhaps, would | | | | often due to nearby farming activities and not the |
| be suitable for a biogas plant depends on assessing | | | | AD plant at all. |
| the budget costs of the investment, against the | | | | By installing an anaerobic digester, the conscientious |
| potential earnings from generated electricity sales and | | | | farmer can actually solve odor issues to everyone\'s |
| from end product bio-solid sales. The economic return | | | | satisfaction. Since the digesters are airtight, the smell |
| period for any farm can be estimated this way. If | | | | stays within, and the liquids and solids coming out of |
| the return period is short enough and an investor can | | | | the digester have only a very slight odor compared |
| be found there is a lot to be said for going ahead. | | | | to the raw slurry. |
| Many people will ask you to demonstrate that the | | | | |