Manure Manager

Features Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Energy
BC farmer converts manure into renewable energy


November 30, 1999  by Biogas Solutions

March 15, 2010, Abbotsford, B.C. – PlanET Biogas Solutions Inc. is pleased to announce that construction has begun on a 125,000 GJ per year renewable natural gas (biomethane) plant in Abbotsford, British Columbia.  
 
This innovative and exciting project combines the experience and expertise of a global team of experts, including PlanET Biogas Solutions of St. Catharines, Ont., Terasan Gas of British Columbia and Greenlane Biogas of Stockholm, Sweden, all leaders in their energy fields. It also solves a waste disposal problem for B.C. farmer Chris Bush, founder of Catalyst Power, who will now be able to turn his cow manure into cash.
 
This biogas plant will be the first farm-based biogas plant in Canada to employ biogas upgrading technology and
the first farm-based biogas plant in British Columbia for agriculture. Phase One of the plant will generate enough renewable natural gas to heat approximately 1000 homes. The plant will feature two anaerobic digesters, one dry feeder system, two pasteurization units, and a biogas upgrading system. The plant will produce biogas from several organic waste streams: dairy manure, chicken manure, FOG (fats, oils, and greases), and corn silage. The construction is scheduled to begin in earnest in early January and is targeted to be producing gas by May 2010. The plant was designed and will be built by PlanET Biogas Solutions acting as the design-build contractor.
 
The biogas produced in the anaerobic digesters will be put through an upgrading process that will remove the
CO2 and other contaminants from the biogas to produce natural gas pipeline quality methane. The pipeline quality methane is to be sold to the local natural gas utility, Terasen Gas, to reduce overall carbon emissions. The gas cleaning technology is provided by Greenlane Biogas, the global leader in biogas upgrading solutions. This project will be their first facility in North America, however Greenlane has 20 years of experience with proven technology throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
 
Biogas is created as a result of complex microbiological processes. Manure and other agricultural byproducts are
broken down by methane-producing bacteria through a four-stage process in an anaerobic (without oxygen)
environment. Biogas consists of 50-60% methane, 40-45% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Anaerobic digestion captures the methane and carbon dioxide from the manure, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of existing nutrient management practices.

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