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Biogas Consultation, Feasibility Assessment and Facilitation

Increasing profits while reducing global warming

Muir in front of German combined heat and power generator at Vermont farm.
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.

You like what you have heard about biogas (anaerobic digestion) but if you live outside Western Europe there are lots of questions. What are the potential revenue streams? How profitable is it? Are grants and incentives available? Who can you trust? Is the project feasible?

Circumstances change drastically from country to country and in the USA, from state to state. Muir Marketing Solutions has an understanding of what can work well – and what may work even better.

The “ad” in www.muirad.com could certainly stand for anaerobic digesting. For the past four years they have increased market share for technology providers through contact with farmers, agents, developers, banks and governmental organizations. Their experience means integrating MMS into your team can insure revenue streams will be maximized.

Should consulting proceed to actual digester construction we are closely affiliated with one of the world’s most successful (500 installations) biogas manufacturers, PlanET Biogas.

 

Construction of PlanET farm digester in North America. Perpendicular pipes heat waste to 38C/100F. Produces 500 kW of electricity from cow manure combined with some food waste.
Large PlanET digester tank in North America. Processes manure of 1,300 cows.

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.
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.

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 in Europe and Russian speaking countries and 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.
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.