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Agricultural Methane Recovery
INTRODUCTION
Livestock confinement facilities
generate large quantities of animal waste that must be
properly managed (see map below). If handled properly, the
organic materials and fertilizer nutrients contained in
manure can be used to enhance soil fertility. However,
this concentrated waste product, even in small amounts,
can be environmentally detrimental if it makes its way
into surrounding rivers and streams. Groundwater supplies
can also become polluted if untreated manure reaches the
watertable.
One viable alternative for treatment of
livestock waste is anaerobic digestion. This process, also
called methane recovery, allows the producer to control
manure disposal through microbial action, which breaks
down the raw manure, and releases the methane gas as an
energy source. Such waste treatment becomes a value-added
process by allowing dividends from energy production, and
creating soil building byproducts in the form of liquids
and biosolids.
The recovery and use of methane
(biogas) can have benefits to both the livestock producer,
and allows the local electric power supplier to support
rural economic development, and protect the environment.
The electric company or rural electric cooperative has the
opportunity to strengthen their relationship with farm
customers, and have a "green power" source to
sell to customers wishing to support renewable energy.
Spend some time at this site to gain a clearer
understanding of methane recovery, and how it may be of
benefit to you.
Anaerobic digestion can be applied to
any size of operation for waste treatment and odor
control. If energy recovery (biogas) is the primary
concern, then size of operation becomes important. For
consistent energy recovery, livestock facilities should
operate with a minimum of 300 dairy or beef animals, or
2000 swine. These animals should be in confinement
where 100% of the waste can be collected on a regular
basis.
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