Regenis, DVO partner on California AD plant

A project that seeks to convert waste generated at dairy farms into biogas in California’s Central Valley has been commissioned. The Calgren Ethanol Biodigester, located in Pixley, California, will bring together a two-stage mixed plug flow digester, designed by Wisconsin-based DVO Inc. and built by Regenis, Ferndale, Washington, the largest builder of digesters in the western United States.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) invested $4.6 million in the project.

The biodigester will use waste from nearby dairy farms to produce millions of gallons of ethanol, which will be consumed throughout California’s Central Valley. The AD is designed to hold about 1.4 million gallons of manure and organic waste.

Each day, the digester will receive 55,000 gallons of solid and liquid waste from Four J Farm Dairy, a nearby dairy farm with about 2,000 head of cattle.

Biogas will replace thousands of gallons of natural gas currently being used by the Calgren on-site cogeneration facility to produce 55 million gallons of ethanol annually.

The companies say that the digester is the first in California to use agricultural waste to create a renewable natural gas that will then power another renewable energy facility.

The AD also will reduce bacteria and pathogens so dairy farmers can reuse the liquids safely on their crops.

“The San Joaquin Valley is challenged with some of country’s worst air pollution,” says Janea Scott, CEC commissioner. “The Pixley Biogas anaerobic digester is the first anaerobic digester on a California farm permitted to use all feedstocks, including municipal green waste and food processing waste. This type of innovative technology helps California meet its clean air, petroleum reduction and climate goals.”

Lyle Schlyer, president of Calgren Renewable Fuels http://www.calgren.com/, says, “I am proud of the contribution that Calgren can make to this incredibly green, low-carbon intensity project. Digesters are often talked about, but actually building one and getting it into operation doesn’t happen all that often. This is a marriage of industrial and dairy interests.”

Bryan VanLoo, Regenis’ vice president, says, “Our mission is to reimagine reusable resources. In the case of California, that potential is almost limitless. Utilizing digesters would not only create hundreds of new construction and operation jobs in rural communities like Tulare County, but there is enough organic waste to power 2 to 3 million homes or to generate 2.5 billion gallons of clean, ultra-low carbon transportation fuels,” he said.

Steve Dvorak, owner and president of DVO, adds, “The launch of the Pixley anaerobic digester is a great opportunity for the community to learn about the possibilities of anaerobic digestion. DVO digesters are a unique, efficient and high-performance waste management solution for agribusinesses and municipalities. We're proud to have partnered with Regenis and Calgren on this exciting installation.”