Considerations for central systems of dairy manure anaerobic digestion to renewable natural gas
Newly released fact sheets by Angela George, Jason Oliver, and Lauren Ray, PRO-DAIRY Dairy Environmental Systems, gives an overview of three configurations of centralized systems for anaerobic digestion (AD) to renewable natural gas (RNG) that involve multiple dairy farms. Key considerations and questions for discussion among participating dairy farms and the project developer for these systems are included.
Detailed information on planning for a centralized AD system or central biogas upgrading system for multiple farms is also available. Anaerobic digestion of dairy manure to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) requires large-scale to be economically viable. Centralized manure AD-to-RNG systems can enable dairy farms of all sizes to collectively participate, including those who may not have the capital or land resources to build and operate their own AD system. One possible arrangement is to feed a single AD system with manure from multiple farms and upgrade biogas to RNG at the AD site. Another possible arrangement is to use a central biogas upgrading skid to upgrade biogas from digesters located on multiple farms.
