|
 |
|
Ridgeline Farm Co-Digests Food Waste
| Location |
Clymer, New York |
| Project Type |
Farm scale |
| Animal Type |
Dairy |
| Population |
525 head |
| Baseline System |
Storage tank |
| Digester Type |
Complete mix |
| Co-Digestion |
By-products from processing milk/ice cream, grapes and salad dressing |
| System Designer |
RCM International, Inc. |
| Biogas Use |
Cogeneration - Engine |
| Generating Capacity |
884,000 kWh/year |
Biogas Generation |
Up to 325,000 ft.3 per day |
| Boiler Capacity |
Unknown |
| Receiving Utility |
National Grid |
 |
| Photo: Cornell University |
In December 2001, Ridgeline Farms (formerly Matlink Dairy Farm) began operating an anaerobic digester system to address odor emissions, water quality, and fuel/electricity costs. Since then, the farm has produced enough electricity for the farm, with excess sold to National Grid and a plastics molding company next to the farm. The digester produces enough biogas to fuel a 120 kW engine-generator set that reliably produces electricity 90 percent of the year. The farm has plans to install an additional 225 kW capacity.
Built at the middle of a slope, the digester uses gravity to transfer manure from the barn alley scraper collection system to the digester. In addition to the manure, influent to the digester typically includes 5,000 gallon loads of food waste. Fixed at opposite corners of the digester, two 20-hp agitators run two hours a day to blend the digester contents. Digester effluent then flows to the long term storage. Material from the long-term storage is spread on 1,800 acres of corn and hay cropland.
Biogas from the digester runs a boiler that produces hot water to maintain a constant 100°F temperature in the digester. The biogas boiler also produces heat for the barn floors and farm office.
Ridgeline's digester project includes the following benefits:
- Reduced odors
- Increased farm revenue from food waste tipping fees and the sale of excess electricity
- Reduced cost to heat the barn floors and farm office
- Stabilized effluent provides nutrients for corn and hay crops.
|
