The Benefits of Biogas Recovery
Anaerobic digesters on livestock farms and the biogas they produce have benefits over traditional manure storage systems. They can:
- Result in cleaner air and water by destroying pathogens, controlling odor, stabilizing organics, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing opportunities for enhanced nutrient management
- Provide a source for distributed energy generation in rural areas
- Produce renewable energy to generate electricity and be used as a fuel for boilers or furnaces, offsetting fossil fuel use
- Yield pipeline quality gas or compressed natural gas that can be sold as a renewable fuel
- Provide a potential revenue source from the sale of energy, carbon credits or coproducts
- Improve relationships with neighbors due to reduced odor levels from manure storage and spreading
- Generate products for use on the farm, such as animal bedding and high quality fertilizer