Table of Contents

Bio-gas
1		Is it for me?
2		Introduction
3		How much does it cost?
4		What are the benefits?
5		Step by step guide
6		Case studies
Bio-fuels
7		Is it for me?
8		Introduction
9		How much does it cost?
10		What are the benefits?
11		Step by step guide
12		Case studies
13		Legal considerations and financial tools
14		References

Biogas: What are the benefits?

Most confined livestock operations handle manure as liquids, slurries, semi-solids, or solids that are stored in lagoons, concrete basins, tanks, and other containment structures. These structures are typically designed to comply with local and regional environmental regulations and are a necessary cost of production.

Biogas technology can be a cost-effective, addition to existing manure management strategies that also enhances the local and global environment. Biogas technologies anaerobically digest manure, resulting in biogas and a liquefied, low-odour effluent.

By managing the anaerobic digestion of manure, biogas technologies significantly reduce Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and pathogen levels; remove most noxious odours and convert most of the organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen compounds (eg ammonium).

The principal reasons a farmer or producer would consider installing a biogas system are:

• To reduce on-site energy costs. By recovering biogas and producing on-farm energy, livestock producers can reduce energy purchases from electric and gas suppliers.
• To reduce odours. Biogas systems reduce the risk of offensive odours from overloaded or improperly managed manure storage facilities which can impair air quality and be a nuisance to nearby communities. The volatile organic acids which cause the odours are converted by bacteria in the process into biogas.
• High Quality Fertilizer. In the process of anaerobic digestion, the organic nitrogen in the manure is largely converted to ammonium, which is the primary constituent of commercial fertilizer and which is readily taken up by plants.
• Reduced Surface and Groundwater Contamination. Digester effluent is a more uniform and predictable product than untreated manure. The higher ammonium content allows easier use on crops and the physical properties allow easier land application. Properly applied, digester effluent reduces the likelihood of surface or groundwater pollution.
• Pathogen Reduction. Heated digesters reduce pathogen populations dramatically in a few days. Lagoon digesters isolate pathogens and allow pathogen kill and die-off prior to entering storage for land application.

Biogas recovery can improve profitability while improving environmental quality. Maximizing farm resources in such a manner may prove essential to remaining competitive, economically and environmentally sustainable in today's livestock industry.

More widespread use of biogas technology will also create jobs in the design, operation, and manufacture of energy recovery systems. .