Methane generation and capture

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Methane generation and capture

• Can we reuse methane that is produced on the
  farm?

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Outline

• I. What is methane?
• A. Where does it come from
• B. What it is used for
• C. Global Warming
• D. Fuel
• II. How does Agriculture contribute?
• A. How much
• B. How
• C. What

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• III. How can it be reduced/captured?
• A. Diet
• B. Digesters
• C. Efficiency
• IV. Is it feasible?
• A. Economics
• B. Time/Space
• V. Conclusion

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What is methane?

• Colorless, odorless gas
• Occurs during anaerobic bacterial decomposition
  of plant and animal matter
• Often found in conjunction with petroleum
  products
• Principal component of natural gas
• Used to heat homes and the generation of electric
  power
• Major Global Warming contributor

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Why would we want to capture methane on the farm?

• On farm energy use
• Reduce smell associated with manure
• Improve water quality on farm
• Reduce Global Warming

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Global Warming

• Second only to carbon dioxide as contributor
• Over the last two centuries concentrations have
  doubled
• Reduction of 10 would halt annual rise
• Twenty-one times more potent than CO2

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How does agriculture contribute?

• Much of the worlds livestock are ruminants
• 2.8 billion domesticated ruminants
• Leading anthropogenic cause in world

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How can agriculture reduce methane emissions?

• Diet
• Feed quality and quantity
• Feed additives
• Increasing efficiency
• Genetic improvement
• Immunization against methanogens
• Antibiotics for microbial growth

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How can farms capture methane?

• Digesters
• Lagoons
• Collection

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Digesters

• Anaerobic digesters, most efficient
• Fairly easily maintained
• Added benefits are fertilizer
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• Potassium

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Is it feasible?

• Most methane systems are extremely expensive
• Most experts agree that you would have to have a
  minimum of 200 cows for operation to be cost
  effective
• Contracts with local power companies need to be
  approved
• Government bonds and incentives are available

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Conclusion

• Until reusing manure is less expensive and there
  are more government incentives, it is hard for a
  small scale farmer to collect manure and use the
  methane generated.
• There is potential as Global Warming increases,
  promotion to decrease methane generation in
  agriculture will increase.
• This should open some doors and make it a more
  feasible venture.