Building & Operating Biogas Recovery Systems

Explore the resources below to gain insights into building and operating an anaerobic digester on your farm.

Guidelines and Permitting

Biogas recovery systems that use anaerobic digestion are sophisticated systems. To help you plan and optimize your anaerobic digester, AgSTAR provides anaerobic digestion guidelines, codigestion guidelines, interconnection guidelines, and detailed information about permitting requirements at the federal, state, and local level.
Review guidelines and permitting

Project Development Handbook

This handbook provides a step-by-step method to determine what biogas system is appropriate for a livestock facility.
View the handbook

Anaerobic Digester/Biogas System Operator Guidebook

This guidebook was created to help operators of on-farm anaerobic digesters and biogas systems improve their system performance and avoid common problems that could lead to community opposition and system shutdown.
View the guidebook

Technical Guidance (Library of Tools)

The AgSTAR program provides access to a wide variety of resources and tools for stakeholders interested in exploring the use of anaerobic digester systems. This library includes outreach materials and project development tools, information on funding resources, and information on digesters operating within the United States.
Go to the library

Anaerobic Digestion Ombudsman Resources

An anaerobic digestion ombudsman is a third-party individual who helps livestock facilities develop and maintain anaerobic digester projects. Anaerobic digestion ombudsman programs have improved project outcomes and expanded the industry.
Learn more about state ombudsman programs