Methane Digesters
Electric cooperatives are working with members who operate livestock facilities to develop methane digester projects in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Animal waste is processed through a methane digester and the resulting gases can be used to fuel a generator. In addition to reducing odor, these renewable energy projects generate heat and electricity that the farmer can use for serving his agricultural loads.
Cooperative members are looking at installing methane digester projects at several dairy, hog-confinement and other livestock facilities in the service areas of several co-ops. Basin Electric is proposing to purchase the output from these member-owned generators for serving electric cooperative members.
Methane digester turns animal waste into electricity
The Midwest Dairy Institute has installed an anaerobic digester at the 2,000-cow dairy farm near Milbank. The generator building contains the digesters’ pumps, machinery and generator. The generator was connected to the Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative system in the spring of 2006. The generator is powered by gases from a 163-foot-long, 85-foot-wide and 25-foot-tall concrete digester, containing 1.2 million gallons of animal-waste solution. |
The digester is the size of three basketball courts. The concrete walls, floor and roof vary between 20-24 inches thick. |
Learn More
- See full story:Â Digester turns manure into power - [PDF]
- Download a chart showing how the anaerobic digester works - [PDF]
