Manure becomes energy source on farm

By Brian St. Denis

Liquid energy: Mark Donnan of Donnandale Farms speaks to a small crowd about the new biogas project that will be fueling his farm by December of this year.For Donnandale Farms, cow manure is soon to be much more than waste.
By December the Donnandale farm north of Belleville will be running self-sufficiently on biogas created by its 600 head of cattle.
Mark Donnan is one of the first to apply to the Ontario Biogas Financial Assistance Program, which funds up to $400,000 for construction and implementation costs. The project was in development now for a year-and-a-half.
Biogas, a combination of methane and carbon dioxide, is the result of a process called anaerobic digestion. It occurs when microorganisms break down organic matter like manure. Biogas is used as a natural gas to fuel electric generators, which create hydro to power farms, making them completely energy self-sufficient.
Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs spoke about the importance of the biogas initiative. She said the Ontario government has committed $11.2 million in funding for the assistance program, demonstrating the McGuinty government’s support in creating clean, green energy.
The biogas system is collaboration between several companies, including Powerbase Energy Systems Inc., a Carleton Place-based business who constructs anaerobic digesters.
Donnan explained a digester in a memorable way.
“It makes another cow’s stomach,” said Donnan. He said the digester heats up the manure and waste, which produces more biogas to be used as fuel than when it is cold.
The Donnan’s anaerobic digester is expected to generate 500 kilowatts of power 24 hours day, seven days a week, or the equivalent of powering 400 households. They will then be able to sell back hydro to the electrical grid, creating a new source of revenue.
“It’s going to produce more heat than I can use,” said Donnan, noting that it will heat his barns, his office space, and his home with energy to spare.
Donnan also praised the environmental benefits of the biogas system, noting that it reduces greenhouse emissions by consuming methane, as well as reducing ground and water contamination from manure run-off.
Donnandale farms have 600 head of dairy cattle, which produce about a whopping 4,000 gallons of liquid manure a day. The farm has been in the family for five generations, operating since 1914. Mark operates Donnandale farms with his father Keith and his brother Shawn, who were busy elsewhere.