What does BioEnergy Solutions do?

We take animal waste, primarily from dairy cows and food processors, and use the natural decomposition process to create natural gas. The renewable natural gas – also called biogas or biomethane – is used by utilities and other power providers to produce electricity.

Other companies have approached me about biogas production.  How is BioEnergy Solutions different from them?

Don’t be misled by them. Others who claim to provide these services offer a one-size-fits-all approach. You would be captive to one proprietary solution. Simply put, it’s their way or no way. At BioEnergy Solutions, we are technology neutral, which means we work with you to identify the system that best meets your needs and maximizes returns. We make the initial investment and obtain the necessary permits. We own, operate and maintain the system, and we share the revenue generated by the sale of the biogas and resulting emissions credits.

Do farmers pay you to do this?

No – and in the end, we pay them. We design, install and maintain the infrastructure necessary to collect methane, the primary component of natural gas, from the property at our expense. We also own the equipment needed to upgrade the gas collected so it can be used at power plants. Revenues from the gas and carbon credit sales are shared with the farmers or food processors on whose property the gas originates.

What are the upfront costs of installing a biogas system and who pays them?

The cost to design and install a digester with an upgrade system can run into the millions of dollars. But, BioEnergy Solutions will fund much of, if not all, the costs. We spare farmers and food processors the considerable upfront expense in addition to sharing the proceeds from the sale of the biogas and carbon credits.

What does the dairy farmer need to do?

It’s simple – the same thing as before, which is to make sure his cows’ manure goes to a central location on his farm. BioEnergy Solutions does the rest, and delivers organic manure back to the dairy farmer.

How much land is taken up by the biogas system?

A relatively small amount. The digester will usually replace existing ponds, and our equipment system will require less than 2,000 square feet of land, roughly the same footprint as a modest home. Since a typical dairy farm in California covers hundreds of acres, for example, a biogas system will require just a small fraction of a farm’s land.

What will happen with the waste water?

Following the digestion and upgrade processes, farmers can utilize the waste water, and the remaining solids, just as they do today to irrigate and fertilize nearby crop lands.

How much biogas can my dairy produce?

Biogas production at dairies is a function of cow numbers, and how much of the manure that is produced can be collected into the digester. A 2,500 cow modern dairy, for example, can provide enough power for over 1,000 homes. We work with all types and sizes of dairies, and send biogas to centralized upgrade plants, in our efforts to assist as many dairy farmers as possible.

How much money will a biogas system generate for my operation?

It’s impossible to say for sure until we conduct an on-site analysis of your operation, which can be done within one month of signing up with us. But, it’s possible that a BioEnergy Solutions system located on a 3,000-cow dairy, for example, could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in new revenues.

 Is there an environmental benefit?

Absolutely! Livestock produce a significant amount of methane, which has more than 20 times the greenhouse gas potential of carbon dioxide. A BioEnergy Solutions system can cut methane emissions by as much as 70%, or 1,500 tons annually on a 5,000-cow farm.

Why do power producers want biogas?

Utilities and other power producers nationwide are looking for ways to increase the use of renewable energy to meet state and federal goals. In California, for example, energy companies must produce 20% of the power from renewable sources by 2010.

Have any utilities agreed to use gas supplied by BioEnergy Solutions projects?

Yes. We have a long-term agreement to provide three billion cubic feet of natural gas a year to Pacific Gas & Electric, a major utility in California. We are also in discussions regarding similar agreements with other power producers.

Has a system been installed yet?

Our first system was completed in 2008 and is delivering high quality, renewable natural gas into PG&E’s pipeline. The project, located near Fresno, California, is being expanded to include a neighboring farm, which will more than double gas production. Construction of a second biogas distribution network, which will be located near Bakersfield, California, is scheduled to begin in early 2010.

What do I have to do first to become a BioEnergy Solutions biogas supplier?

It’s simple to get the process started. All you have to do is complete our one-page agreement which will authorize us to conduct an analysis of your operation. We’ll send the engineering and technology experts to your property (at our expense) and they’ll work with you to identify the best system to suit your needs. Once the agreement is signed, our analysis will be complete within two months. And, the agreement obligates you to do nothing beyond giving us access to your property for the initial analysis.

Can BioEnergy Solutions help me even if I have just a thousand cows on my dairy?

It’s certainly possible. Depending upon your location and whether there are other farms around you, we might be able to form a biogas "cluster" in your area. If your neighbors are also interested in a system, we would explore locating one upgrade system in a central location and connecting your farm and your neighbors’ farm to the system. Creating a cluster of farms could make a biogas system even more efficient than it otherwise would be.

Does your technology work anywhere?

We’re "technology neutral," which means we custom-fit the solution and technology to the location at which it will be used instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. Some factors that determine the viability of a project include the size of the facility and the proximity to an existing natural gas pipeline.

Who is behind the company?

BioEnergy Solutions is based in Bakersfield, California and was founded by David Albers, a lifelong dairy farmer and attorney. The company is a subsidiary of American Dairy Parks, LLC, which develops sustainable, vertically integrated farming operations that include crop farming, milk processing and production, and waste-to-energy facilities.