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The AgSTAR Program |  |
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| Waste Management Options |
Cost per 1,000 lbs. Live weight |
Odor Control |
Greenhouse Gas Emission |
Water Quality Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaerobic Digesters* | $200-750 |
E |
L |
G |
| Combined Treatment & Storage Lagoons | $200-400 |
P-G |
H |
F-G |
| Storage Ponds & Tanks | $50-500 |
P-F |
M-H |
P-F |
Key: P=poor, F=fair, G=good, E=excellent, L= low, L=low,
M=moderate, H=high
* Anaerobic digesters also have financially attractive payback
periods of 3-5 years when energy gas uses are employed. These may include
electric, heat, and cooling.
There are two ways to develop a project:
On-farm or farm-scale systems where the system is owned and operated by farm owner. This is currently the predominant project type in the U.S.
Regional or centralized digesters which transfer manure from multiple farms to an off-farm digester operated by a third party. These approaches are becoming more attractive in various regions of the U.S. Typically this approach requires manure to be collected fresh with very little process water from farms located within about 5 miles of the processing location. There are currently three of these types of systems in operation.
To determine if a biogas recovery system is right for your facility, you will need to consider the following factors: how manure is handled at your facility, the frequency of manure collection, and the options available for using the recovered biogas.
Manure handling. Biogas digester systems can accommodate manure handled as a liquid, slurry, or semisolid (with little or no bedding added). The total solids content of the manure—a measure of manure thickness—determines these classifications.
Frequency of manure collection. Facilities best suited for biogas digester systems typically have stable year-round manure production, and collect at least 50 percent of the manure daily.
Gas use. Several gas-use options are available, including engines, chillers, and boilers, or gas can simply be flared. When choosing among these options, you will need to take into account how the option affects a system's financial performance, the labor requirements associated with the option, and the skills needed to maintain and repair energy producing equipment.
General Information
AgSTAR Digest - An annual news publication highlighting methane
recovery status, technology advances, reports from the
field, and environmental and energy issues and application
strategies.
Project Development
AgSTAR Handbook - This is a concise project development manual. It contains
information to do a complete farm assessment including planning and
developing a
commercial system.
FarmWare (EXE, 74 MB) - FarmWare is an analytical tool designed to provide a preliminary assessment on the benefits of integrating anaerobic digestion into an existing or planned dairy or swine manure management system. It provides details on costs, economics, and system type based on user input through a form. This product goes hand-in-hand with the handbook.
Industry Provider List - This product contains a list of vendors and service providers available to develop projects. It also contains relevant experience of each company relative to anaerobic digestion and gas combustion of livestock manure.
Funding On-Farm Biogas Recovery Systems: A Guide to Federal and State Resources (PDF, 72 pp., 653 KB, About PDF) provides information about programs and strategies, such as low-interest loans, grants, and tax incentives, that can help parties interested in implementing anaerobic digestion technology overcome financial barriers to project development.
These materials are located in the Web site Documents, Tools and Resources section, which also contains additional articles and case studies on anaerobic digestion of animal wastes.
The AgSTAR Program provides information to identify appropriate systems for various farm types, and it does not provide project funding. However, the AgSTAR program provides a listing of federal, state, and local cost share opportunities. Additionally, the Industry Directory List may contain financing arrangements through various providers. The 2002 Farm Bill also provides cost share opportunities in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, EQIP, and Biomass R&D sections of the Farm Bill. These opportunities are available through 2007.
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In May 2008, Congress passed the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (Farm Bill). This builds upon the first-ever Energy Title of the
2002 Farm Bill, providing new programs and a stronger federal commitment
to farm-based energy. Mandatory funding for the Rural Energy for
America Program (REAP) - formerly the Section 9006 program - more than
doubled from $115 million to $255 million. REAP will continue to
include grant and loan funds for construction of proven anaerobic
digester systems, but now also includes funds for technical assistance
and feasibility studies. Since 2003, USDA Rural Development has
awarded more than $40 million for anaerobic digestion systems. For
more information, see the 