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Environmental and Economic Opportunities
Capturing methane can reduce odor and decrease the potential for pollution. While systems are currently expensive, their societal and environmental benefits may outweigh those costs. Just as importantly, methane recovery develops a renewable resource and offsets fossil fuel consumption.
Odor abatement studies at livestock facilities with methane recovery systems confirm that odor levels are lower when compared to similar-sized facilities with open lagoons. Bell Farms, a 5,000 head swine farrow-to-wean facility near Creston, Iowa, operates a methane recovery system. Dr. Dwaine Bundy of Iowa State University tested odor levels from manure at the operation, concluding that manure digested properly had much lower hydrogen sulfide and odor thresholds than manure that was undigested.
Economically, methane recovery systems allow operators to offset their own electricity and heating needs. Methane energy can be used to run turbines or generators for electricity production, or to heat boilers for heating purposes. In some cases, electricity can be sold to utilities and put on the electric grid.
In 2000, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) commissioned a Waste Characterization Study to identify methane recovery potential related to livestock waste. The study found that the amount of manure generated in Iowa could meet the energy needs of 325,000 homes.
Iowa Waste Characterization Study,*.pdf file
DNR Contact:
Jim Bodensteiner
(515) 281-8416
Jim.Bodensteiner@dnr.state.ia.us
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