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The principal monetary benefit would be the value of biogas as a fuel, replacing another source of
energy. Other benefits are described below.

~ Electricity: A digester system will produce electricity to offset current farm power needs and
could easily produce electricity to sell to the utility when a Power Purchasing Agreement
contract is developed.

~ Heat: Biogas may be used as a replacement for propane or natural gas. Heat may be recovered
from the engine-generator heat exchanger which may be used for heat source replacements.

~ Bedding: (complete mix & plug flow) The solids recovered from a complete-mix or plug flow
digester effluent are suitable to use for cow bedding. However, due to the dilute nature of
covered lagoon influent, a solids separator is required prior to the anaerobic digester and the
solids recovered “as-is” would not be appropriate for this use.

~ Recovered Solids: Solids recovered could be composted and sold off-site to a mulching or
gardening facility. Solids separation in general reduces the need for storage basin clean-outs.

~ Manure Handling: Dairy farms with anaerobic digesters report improved odor control &
improved manure pumpability.

~ Green House Gas Reduction Credits: Flush dairy practices and liquid manure storage basins
provide and anaerobic environment in which carbon contained in the manure is converted into
methane (CH4). An anaerobic digester system will trap this methane before it can enter the
atmosphere and combust the methane gas in a flare, boiler or engine. During combustion,
methane is converted into carbon dioxide (CO2). While still a green house gas, CO2 is 20 times
less harmful to global climate stability than methane. Financial incentives to capture and destroy
methane are available to digester projects through a participating member and offset provider on
the Chicago Climate Exchange. More information about this program may be found at:
www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/

~ Renewable Energy Credits (RECs): Depending upon the agreement worked out with the utility;
the dairy may be able to sell RECs to the utility, state or on an informal market. 1 REC=1000 kWh
of power produced. The ability to sell these credits and the value of these credits is uncertain so
a financial value in not normally placed on these credits prior to construction.

~ Tax Benefits- Depreciation: Straightline depreciation for the project can be claimed on annual
tax returns for the farm.

~ Tax Benefits: Renewable Energy Credit: Section 45 of the tax code made by the “Energy Policy
Act of 2005” allows renewable energy projects with an engine nameplate rating of 150 KW or
greater to obtain a tax credit of 1 cents/kWh of power produced.

~ Herd Health: Reduced pathogens in the recycled flush water will help improve the overall
health of the dairy animals.

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~Farmer Reported Costs: In our experience, Operations and Maintenance costs are on the order
of $0.015-$0.020 per kWh of power generated by the project. For instance a 100 kW engine-
generator running 90% of the time could produce 788,400 kWh each year which would cost
between $11,000- $15,800 per year to maintain and operate.

These costs are incurred by labor and materials for routine digester checks and engine
maintenance such as oil and spark plug changes.

~Digester Maintenance: A properly running anaerobic digester project will take no more attention
than a 30 minute walk around to check the engine and biogas meters, digester pH and
temperature.

In an instance where a manure pump gets clogged with a foreign part or the engine needs
attention, more time will be needed.

~Engine maintenance: Oil changes on the engine are required every two weeks which can require
additional labor hours.

The Caterpillar & Waukesha engine will require a top-end rebuild about every 20,000 hours (2.2
years) this can cost on the order of $10,000. This can be done in one day by a good mechanic.

Engine Heads need to be replaced every 8,000 to 12,000 hrs. Waukesha motors may go longer on
heads but have the tendency to drop valves and do more damage if let go to long. These are easily
replaced in one day.

The Waukesha engine at Matlink Dairy (Ridgeline) went 22,000 hrs before it dropped a valve. This
did not do any damage to the engine. The valve just broke up and the engine spit it out the
exhaust. The engine continued to run for 2 weeks without the exhaust valve while they waited
for a replacement head.

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Does Anaerobic Digestion Solve the Problem?
A problem must be recognized before it can be solved. Farms and governments are recognizing
the need for control of point source and non-point discharge from animal production. Controls
cost money.  Digesters make money for the farm from heat or electricity, reduced odor, reduced
flies, reduced pathogens, killed weed seeds, and improved fertilizer values.  Therefore,
anaerobic digestion can be a solution to the problem.


Market Advantages
The long term analysis is, an anaerobic digester will improve the profitability of most, but not all
farms.  In the future, the advantages of the systems will be more fully appreciated.  There are
hundreds more digesters today than there were 10 years ago. The farming industry has embraced
the technology as a lower cost alternative for pollution control and many farms will continue to
do so.  When the technology is compared with alternatives, farmers realize that the advantages
exist.  If farms in all countries must meet similar pollution control regulations, then they will all
consider their options and many will select digestion for the edge it will give them in profitability.
© Copyright 2007 RCM International, LLC, All Rights Reserved.
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April 8, 2008

The Brubaker heated and mixed digester is updated with and designed with the most cost effective construction
techniques.  The new model engine is a Guascor and is 50% more efficient than old biogas engines. The 700 cows
manure plus a few scoops of other on farm waste are making biogas to run the engine at 180-210 kW
continuously.  Digested solids are separated and dried and used for bedding.

Description

Job name - Brubaker Brothers

Location - Mt. Joy PA

Digester Type - 1,100 cow complete Mix

Herd Size - 700 cows

Engine - 225 kW Guascor

Features -  FAN solids separator with forced heat drying floor under the solids.

















                  Complete Mix Digester                                                                            Digested Solids


















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