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Project Weds Economics, Environment
By Janet Kubat Willette -
Agri News staff writer
PRINCETON, Minn. -- Haubenschild Farm's dairy setup looks
like most other large dairies with one exception -- the big
white bag.
The white bag covers the farm's plug-flow digester. The digester
is designed to treat and process manure from up to 1,000 cows
into methane. The methane is used to power a Caterpillar engine,
which literally runs the farm.
A network of water-heated pipes maintain a temperature of
100 degrees Fahrenheit in the digester. The hot-water heat
comes from the engine. Hot-water heat is also used to heat
the floors in the parlor, the holding area and the barns.
"A good digester will pay its own note," said Mark Moser,
the system designer. Moser was one of several people who gave
a tour of the Haubenschild dairy earlier this month.
A digester takes all the material that stinks and turns it
into methane gas, Moser said. In simplest terms, the manure
goes in one end of the digester and as it is squeezed through
it generates methane. When the manure has been completely digested,
it filters into the storage basin.
The engine averages four years between major overhauls, Moser
said. Oil changes are needed every two weeks. The system requires
35 minutes to 45 minutes of daily maintenance.
"This is set up as prime power. It's meant to run all the
time," Moser said.
In 10 to 12 years, the digester will need to be cleaned out
and the cover replaced.
Plug-flow projects
The Haubenschild Farm project is one of 12 plug-flow projects
nationally that AgStar is working with and the only one in
Minnesota, said Kurt Roos, who manages the AgStar program for
the Environmental Protection Agency. The AgStar program focuses
on waste management systems and this year will concentrate
on pulling together existing research.
One of the program's goals is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
Roos said. Roughly 10 percent to 15 percent of the nation's
greenhouse gas emissions are from dairy and hog operations,
he said.
In the seven months the digester has operated at the Haubenschild
Farm, it has offset three tons of coal, Roos said. It provides
voltage support at the end of the line, serving almost like
a substation, he said. The methane is also green power for
East Central Energy.
"There's a lot of benefits in this for the utility," Roos
said.
East Central Energy has purchased about 100,000 kilowatt hours
for nearly $9,000 from the Haubenschilds, said Henry Fischer,
ECE business and community development manager. The rural electric
cooperative markets it as green power to some of its 41,000
customers who are interested in supporting renewable energy.
The utility has customers from St. Cloud to the Wisconsin border.
"Our mission is to help enhance the quality of life (of residents)," Fischer
said. "We feel this is a win-win project for everybody."
Haubenschild Farm has produced more than 300,000 kilowatt
hours in seven months from nine million cubic feet of gas,
saving $12,000 in electric costs, Fischer said.
Marsha Haubenschild said it's nice to receive a check from
the utility rather than write the utility a check.
Coming away impressed
Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric was so interested in learning
more about the Haubenschild project that they organized a bus
tour. More than 30 people from the cooperative's service area
toured the farm.
Gerald Mikel, SWCE general manager, said he was impressed
with the Haubenschild Farm. The cooperative organized the tour
to connect farmers from this area with the Haubenschilds.
"We really believe that the ability to handle this issue (manure)
is essential in allowing our farmers to expand," Mikel said. "When
our farmers expand it helps our cooperative.
"What's good for our customers is good for our cooperative," he
added.
At least one person who toured the Haubenschild Farm thought
he could put what he learned to use.
Roger Frederick, who operates a 500-cow dairy near Waseca
with his family, said the digester is a step in the right direction
for manure management. He intends to look into the installation
of a manure digester for his dairy operation. |
