12/18/2007 10:39:00 AM Jennissens receive methane digester
HERALD PHOTO BY DAVE SIMPKINS
Linda and Jerry Jennissen (front, center) took delivery on a state-of-the-art, 24,000 pound methane digester last week that will turn manure into electricity on the farm near Brooten. Celebrating with them were Amanda Bilek of the Minnesota Project, Kevin Pack of Andigen, Rolly Meinke of Genex and Dave Gruenes of Stearns Electric Association.
By Dave Simpkins
Christmas came early at the Linda and Jerry Jennissen farm with the delivery last week of a 13' x 30', 24,000 pound anaerobic digester they have been working towards for three years.
The project was initiated by the Minnesota Project to develop digesters to turn manure into electricity on smaller farms.
Currently, most digesters need manure from at least 300 cows to be effective. The Minnesota Project, along with state, university and farm groups, are putting a digester on the Jennissen farm to test the possibility of this technology on smaller farms.
Amanda Bilek, of the Minnesota Project, was as excited to see the digester arrive as the Jennissens.
"The more of these we can get into successful operation, the more affordable they will become, giving us a cost-effective energy source for farmers and electrical suppliers," said Bilek.
The digester will produce twice as much electricity as the Jennissens will need, and they will sell the extra to Stearns Electric Association at the retail rate.
Dave Gruenes of Stearns Electric believes, "Stearns County is certainly the place to test this kind of technology with our many dairy farms and we really need alternative energy sources."
Methane digesters convert manure and other organic materials to a mixture of 65 percent methane and 35 percent carbon dioxide called biogas. Some farmers sell their gas directly to gas companies.
Since the project also includes a manure separator, solids from the manure will be pressed out and the Jennissens will be using the dry matter for bedding for a savings of about $14,000 a year. They may also sell some of their excess.
The Jennissens milk 135 cows today and plan on going to 170 cows.
"This technology has huge potential, a win-win for farmers, energy users and the environment," said Jerry Jennissen. "If we don't fill the digester we can provide disposal services to restaurants for cooking oil, slaughter-house waste, whey and just about any organic substrate material."
The digester was made by Andigen of Logan, Utah. Owner Kevin Pack was on hand for the delivery of the company's 11th digester. Pack said the on-farm digesters can cash flow at 15 cents a kilowatt, without any tax breaks or subsidies.
Some utilities have offered their customers an increased rate to pay for green energy that Pack said would make a big difference in starting up the industry.
A complete digesting system will cost from $250,000 to $500,000, depending on what manure handling facilities are in place. Much of the money for this project came from the Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources (lottery dollars). Other sources of funding include the EQIP program through NRCS, the North Fork Crow River Watershed District and Stearns Electric, plus a sizeable investment from the Jennissens.
Jerry Jennissen believes digesters will be commonplace on farms in 10 years, and manure could become a serious energy source. He noted Andigen is already looking at ways of creating bacteria that produces hydrogen which could power fuel cells as they come on the market.
The digesting process also creates a higher quality fertilizer with no smell.
The Minnesota Project sent out two requests for proposals looking for a digester manufacturer before they found Andigen. The complete mix process they use operates with a smaller tank and produces biogas within four to five days. The current plug flow systems use larger manure collection facilities and have a 23 to 30-day turn around.
Each Andigen tank can handle manure from up to 200 cows. Farmers can add or subtract tanks depending on their demand.
Next Christmas, the Jennissens will be lighting their Christmas tree and many other trees with their digester.
