Dairy Farm Biogas
The conversion of effluent into electricity and heat is undertaken using the process of anaerobic digestion. The energy availability is driven by microbiological process which requires heat and volatile solids. Rural Energy has pioneered the development of grid connected biogas electricity generation (on-farm) in partnership with Natural Systems Ltd.
The estimated energy available from dairy effluent in New Zealand has previously been estimated at approximately 1.5PJ p.a., however with new farming practices and the uptake of covered feedpads and yards - this may increase by a factor of five to ten - allowing approximately 7 to 15 PJ of electrical energy to be produced on New Zealand dairy farms per annum.
This is the equivalent to electricity used by 200,000 to 400,000 homes.
(assuming 10,000 kWh per house)