Agricultural Digesters LLC is our sister company dedicated to developing renewable electricity and natural gas at farms internationally.

Pragma (web page above) is an international development company with funding from USAid. For them we are integrating a digester into their Agricultural Park project in the Middle East (Jordan).

Recently our industry focus has been renewable energy. More specifically a process less well known than wind and solar and that is – anaerobic digestion or biogas. This is a technology that converts manure from cows, pigs and chickens as well as food waste into electricity or natural gas. While doing this it also eliminates the green house gases, methane and carbon dioxide, that cause global warming.

Every anaerobic digestion project (biogas) is unique and the farmer or developer must determine which revenue streams can bring the greatest benefit. Depending on the market:

  • Electricity or natural gas can be produced and used by the farm – the excess sold to the grid.
  • Significant “tipping” fees can be collected from waste haulers.
  • The separated solid output from dairy digesters, can be used as animal bedding or sold to nurseries.
  • Pathogen reduction means less air, soil and water pollution as well as avoidance of fines.
  • Combined heat and power generators run 24/7 and providing reliable electricity and heat where energy is not dependable.
  • Generated carbon credits can be sold and renewable energy credits are tradable commodities.
  • Our sister company, Agricultural Digesters LLC, can show farmers and investors the path to maximum profit. Here is a short video explaining some of what is required.
Friend and colleague, Xaydar Mouktarov, at Moscow exhibition, describing foreign biogas technology to Grigoriy Aksanian, Senior Industry Development Expert of the Russian National Union of Pig Breeders, on behalf of MMS.
PlanET digester in New York state processing the manure of 1,300 cows.

There are regional factors driving biogas development. For example:

  • Several American states have established limits on incinerating food waste which can become a potent digester feedstock.
  • Pig waste is an environmental issue in Europe and Russian speaking countries. Farmers face government fines if their manure management is unsatisfactory.
  • The value of renewable natural gas (RNG) is skyrocketing. Upgrading biogas into RNG increases profits.
  • Dependence on the world’s largest oil and natural gas suppliers is a political liability for many countries. Biogas is one solution.
  • The price paid for biogas, the green tariff, varies from country to country and state to state.
Midday pollution in Beijing caused by fossil fuels. Government encourages renewables such as biogas.
Visiting farm with 40,000 pigs of various sizes outside Chisinau, Moldova. Cold temperatures can kill off a pig farmer’s young stock. Heat produced by a digester ensures that needed warmth.
Chinese pharmaceutical company Baohetang discussing pig manure and organic waste project in Pennsylvania, USA.
Marco Florian of ENAD (Italy) introducing project plans of Greek developer (right) for three, 3 mw, corn silage only, anaerobic digesters.
Ilias Papageorgiadis, President of the Romanian Association of Biomass and Biogas (ARBIO) in Bucharest. Until 2013 Romania offered the highest prices (green tariff) for electricity – over 40 cents/kW.
Friend and colleague Dmitry Beskurinikov (left) of Russian American Trade and Investment Consulting (Washington D.C.) discussing converting Russia’s pig manure into energy. Engine room was heated by a combined heat and power generator fueled by manure from the farm outside.
Manure management conference presented by MMS for southern New England dairy farmers, the Dept. of Energy, Environmental Protection (DEEP) and others. Specialist (left) described the benefits of digester output on cropland. Three of the farms purchased digesters.
Photo following tour of farms in Izmir, Turkey owned by YASAR, a major agricultural holding company. The American/Turkish developer came to MMS for digesters to manage cow manure at three sites.