The farm milks about 2,000 Holstein dairy cows and works about 3,600 acres of land. The on-site digester system has been operating since 2010. Originally, the anaerobic digester captured biogas to power a 380 kW genset. The electricity produced was used directly on the farm and excess sold to the local utility.
This digester system prevents methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from being released into the atmosphere, thereby reducing the net greenhouse gas emissions from manure processed by the dairy.
In 2019, MCR was contracted to refurbish the biogas system. This included upgrading the digester with new technology capable of cleaning the methane gas and converting it into high quality Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for use in heating or transportation.
A total of five farms contribute RNG to the system cluster. The gas processed at each farm is transported to this centrally located diary where it is injected into the interstate gas pipeline.
Collectively, the 5 farms generate about 305,000 million British thermal units (MMBtu) of RNG each year.
RNG production: 120 MMBtus/day
MCR Work Order Approval: April 2019
MCR Start Up and Commissioning: December 2019
Original anaerobic digester: 2010
Digester system type:
Complete Mix
Feedstocks:
Dairy Manure; Waste Milk; Cheese Whey Permeate
Engine-generator set: 380 kW Guascor CHP unit
