Methane System Commercialization
There were inconsistent results from the first generation of systems, mostly from the 1980s, for digesting animal wastes to produce methane for fuel. A new generation of commercial methane systems is now being developed and produced, with much experimentation around both fresh and time-tested approaches.
BERC can help potential users of these systems, mainly farmers, to determine which - if any - are likely to be cost-effective, productive investments. BERC can also help state and federal agencies to design farm methane programs and analyze technologies.
Farmers who might invest in new methane-digester systems need uniform, reliable information about:
- which systems work, and why
- which systems can easily be integrated into a busy farm routine
- which systems are likely to repay the user's investment in a timely manner, and to continue producing energy at a net gain to the farm.
Through its work on the Vermont Methane Pilot Program, BERC has three years' experience, and our staff has six years' total experience, in this field. As an independent nonprofit, BERC has no vested interest in any of the competing systems, and so can provide reliable information and advice on which designs may work best for specific farming operations.