U.S.

Farm Anaerobic Digestion Systems: A 2010 Snapshot

Digester Systems Show Steady Growth
n estimated 162 anaerobic digestion systems for livestock manure were operating in the United States by the end of 2010. Farms are installing digesters to help meet their waste storage and energy needs, as well as for the systems environmental benefits. The total number of systems operating has grown steadily over the last decade, with an average of 15 new digesters coming on line each year (see Figure 1). In 2010, 13 new digester projects became operational.
180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

2010 by the Numbers

162 digesters in operation 13 new digesters brought on line 453 million kWH of energy generated 1.1 million metric tons of CO2e destroyed 246,000 metric tons of CO2e avoided Combined heat and power systems are increasingly popular, and nearly half of all operating projects were using these systems in 2010. The systems not only generate electricity, but also capture waste heat, which can be used to warm on-site buildings, provide hot water, or dry solids.

Number of Projects

NewProjects Total Projects Operating

Digesters Reduce Over 1.1 Million Metric Tons of CO2e

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year
Figure 1. Annual Counts of Anaerobic Digester Projects

Anaerobic digesters help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions both directly and indirectly (see Figure 3). Digesters capture and destroy methane, a potent greenhouse gas, that would otherwise be released directly to the atmosphere. The biogas captured by digesters can also be used to generate electricity, which typically
500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Digesters Generate Over 450 Million kWh of Energy

In 2010, digesters produced the equivalent of approximately 453 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy (see Figure 2), enough to supply more than 25,000 average American homes for a year.i Although the majority of the energy is in the form of electricity (402 million kWh), some operations use the gas as a boiler fuel, while others upgrade it for injection into natural gas pipelines. Others flare the biogas for odor and greenhouse gas control.

Million kWh/yr Equivalent*

NonElectricity Projects Electricity Projects

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year
*Outputestimated includes a calculatedequivalent kWh/yr output for the energy generation of direct thermal, pipeline injection,orothernonelectricityproducing projects.

Figure 2. Trends in Energy Production by Anaerobic Digesters

i

All emission reduction equivalencies in this fact sheet were estimated using U.S. EPAs Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator (February 2011 version), available at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html.

offsets fossil fuels use. This in turn means fewer greenhouse gas emissions are produced. In 2010, digester systems directly reduced methane emissions by 51,000 metric tons, or 1.1 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), and avoided 264,000 metric tons of CO2e by displacing fossil fuels with captured methane. These reductions are equivalent to: Removing about 235,500 passenger vehicles from the road, or Reducing oil consumption by almost 2.8 million barrels, or Reducing gasoline consumption by over 134 million gallons.
1,400,000

Unknown, 4 Other, 7

Fixed Film, 3

Partial Cover Lagoon, 2

Horizontal Plug Flow, 23 Covered Lagoon, 27

Mixed Plug Flow, 54

CompleteMix, 42

Metric Tonnes CO2Equavalent (tCO2e)

1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0

Avoided Emissions* Direct Emission Reductions

Figure 4. 2010 Counts of Operating Anaerobic Digesters by Technology

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year
*Avoided emissions calculated based on EPA eGRID national average emission rates for electricity projects and EPAs InventoryofU.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 19902006 for nonelectricityprojects. EPAeGRID data unavailable for 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2006 so values were extrapolated based on a linear decrease from 2000 to 2004 and from 2005 to 2007. EPA eGRID data for 2007 and EPA greenhouse gas inventorydata for 2006 were assumed for subsequent years as these are the most recent data available.

covered lagoons operating at ambient temperature, as well as attached growth and induced blanket reactors. Although the majority of systems use only livestock manure, and are farm-owned and operated, other approaches are emerging. For example, approximately 25 percent of project operators reported co-digesting high-strength organic wastes (e.g., food waste, agriculture waste, cheese whey) to increase gas production. Most digestion systems operate at dairy farms in the Midwest, West, and Northeast (see Figure 5). Of the new systems that came on line in 2010, one was installed at a poultry farm, while the rest were located at dairy farms in Wisconsin (four projects), New York (three projects), Vermont (two projects), Ohio (one project), Minnesota (one project), and Oregon (one project). Farms in 33 states now have anaerobic digestion systems. The trends for 2010 show a continuing rise in the number of systems coming on line, the amount of electricity being produced, and the amount of greenhouse gases being reduced.
VT ME

Figure 3. Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions by Anaerobic Digesters

2010 Trends
The majority of commercially operating digesters (see Figure 4) are plug flow and complete mix systems operating at mesophilic temperatures (95105F). The remainder of the systems include
WA

4/22,513
MT OR ID

3/2,365

3/38,254

1/869
WY

ND

10/17,788 6/60,060
MN

2/2792
NE

SD

26/83,158

WI

6/16,897

MI

6/20,345

IN

23/31,639
PA NJ DE

NY

NH MA RI

Number of Operating Projects/ Estimated Energy Production (MWh/yr equivalent)

2/1,787
NV UT CA

1/876
CO

3/21,830
MO

IA

IL

14/30,256

1/823

4/3,136
KS

4/16,186
WV KY

OH

16/19,789
DC VA

2/656
MD

CT

1/NA

1/NA
OK AR

1/NA
TN

1/163 5/801
SC NC

1/123

AZ

NM

1/NA
Total Operating Projects: 162 Total Estimated Energy Production: 453,000 MWh/yr equivalent
TX

1/NA

1/NA
MS AL LA

6/3,354

1/2,002
FL

GA

3/54,846

2/NA

Figure 5. 2010 Operating Manure Digesters

More detailed information, including project profiles, is available on the AgSTAR website: www.epa.gov/ agstar/projects.