Dairy Waste Anaerobic Digestion Energy ValueAdded Product

1
Dairy Waste to Energy Clarkson University Center
for the Environment S.J. Grimberg1, P. Pillay1,
S.E. Powers1, E. Thacher1, R. Welsh1, R. Robbins2
Dairy Waste Anaerobic Digestion ? Energy
Value-Added Product
manure
Cheese whey
Anaerobic digester
Niche market product
Energy
A triple win solution Increased economic
viability for local dairy industry Reduced
environmental impacts Reduced dependence on
fossil fuels

• Introduction
• Biogas derived from the anaerobic digestion of
  manure and whey represents an important bio-fuel.
  
• Over 50 of the anaerobic digesters (AD) built
  before the mid-1980s failed to operate properly.
  
• Farmers perceive that AD systems are hard to
  operate and likely to fail, especially at smaller
  scales and in the cold northern climates.
• Sand bedding is preferred for modern dairy
  operations. However, it provides challenges for
  AD design and operation.

Anaerobic Digestion at North Harbor Dairy A
feasible solution with educational outreach and
tech transfer opportunities
a

• Project Approach
• Build and test a full scale AD/whey/cogeneration
  system at North Harbor Dairy
• Develop and use a systems mass/energy/
  optimization model
• Life cycle assessment to determine environmental
  costs and benefits
• Outreach and technology transfer through
  established partnerships between users, academia,
  and industries.

• Strength Through Partnerships
• Clarkson University (engineering and social
  science professors)
• Ron Robbins of North Harbor Dairy and other
  farmers in St. Lawrence County (e.g. Mapleview
  Farm, Madrid, NY)
• Local cheese producers (e.g.,CoolBrands Dairy,
  Inc)

• Feasibility of an AD/cogeneration system
• Current 20,500 kWh energy consumed per month
• Total heat and power costs - 46,000 per year
• All electrical energy can be supplied by the
  system.
• Excess of 328,347 kWh per year generated to feed
  into the grid or operate value-added processes at
  the farm.
• more heat generated than currently required at
  the farm except in January and February.
• Total annual revenue due to excess energy
  production is estimated to 36,467
• Estimated payback period of less than 8 yr on a
  600,000 capital investment for digester and
  co-generator.

• Outcomes
• Improved AD technologies for dairies using modern
  sand bedding
• An economic optimization model for the integrated
  energy system/added-value product to be used as a
  design tool for other farms, and to develop
  regulatory incentive structures to broadly
  embrace this technology.
• A lifecycle accounting of environmental benefits
  from diverting waste products and the associated
  displacement of fossil fuel sources.
• A survey of farmers and analysis of factors
  influencing relative propensity for
  implementation of integrated AD energy systems.
• Technology transfer to dairy farmers, dairy
  manufacturers resulting in a more economically
  competitive industry.

Financial Support NY State Funding NYSERDA, NY
Ag and Markets Federal Funding
USDA, DOE
1 Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 2 North
Harbor Dairy, Sackets Harbor, NY