Hillcrest-Saylor dairy farm methane digester

How are the carbon offsets generated?

Anaerobic bacteria in the digester eat the cow manure, decomposing it and releasing methane gas as waste. The methane gas contained in the digester is then burned to heat water or generate electricity. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, so burning it reduces the impact on the climate.

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What is done with the processed manure?

Once the digested manure solids come out of the digester, they are used for bedding for the cows, saving the farm money. Digested manure liquids, which are essentially made odorless by the process, can be irrigated on nearby fields as natural fertilizer. Since this fertilizer is more easily absorbed by the plants and soil, the digester helps to reduce run off into local water ways, protecting aquatic ecosystems in the area.

How many different kinds of offsets are generated from this project?

Three. Offsets that are created from RECs, and two types of direct avoided GHG emissions: avoided methane release from manure lagoons and avoided carbon dioxide from displaced oil used to heat water on the farm. Only methane abatement offsets are in the BP portfolio.

How is this project additional?

The sale of offsets represented a considerable portion of the entire project cost and allowed Hillcrest-Saylor to apply for and receive a Energy Harvest grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

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Photo credit: NativeEnergy

Type

Farm methane abatement

Location

Rockwood, PA

Project by

NativeEnergy