Dairy farms are agricultural operations primarily producing milk and other dairy products, such as cheese, butter, and yogurt. Currently, in the United States alone, there are over 64,000 dairy farms that house cows and other livestock, according to US Farm Data. Dairy farms can play a vital role in sustainable agriculture by utilizing byproducts and waste for energy generation such as renewable natural gas (RNG) and soil enrichment. This will contribute to environmental stewardship.
Livestock on these farms naturally produce methane through fermentation, a process that occurs during digestion. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes significantly to global warming. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that 37% of methane emissions from human activity stem from livestock and agricultural practices. Even a seemingly simple action like a cow belching can release methane into the atmosphere, with each cow contributing between 154-264 pounds of methane annually. When considering this on a global scale, the impact is staggering at an estimated 1.5 billion cattle emitting over 231 billion pounds of methane each year, according to the EPA.
Converting Biomass to Renewable Natural Gas
To help prevent catastrophic climate change without compromising dairy production, innovative solutions like renewable natural gas technology have emerged. By utilizing anaerobic digesters, dairy farms can collect methane-rich biogas from animal manure and convert it into renewable natural gas. This process involves capturing biogas, refining it at on-site processing plants, and transforming it into a clean and sustainable energy source. There are numerous benefits to upgrading biogas to RNG, as RNG is capable of fueling natural gas vehicles and generating electricity and heat.
According to the California Air Resources Board, replacing conventional vehicle fuels with RNG derived from dairy manure can lead to a remarkable 400% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Stark Tech is Leading the Charge in RNG Manufacturing Equipment
Most Anaerobic digestion projects on dairy farms are on a scale of raw gas production from 75 standard cubic feet per meter (SCFM) to 1000+ SCFM. Stark Tech specializes in membrane and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology to help meet the SCFM requirements. Currently operating out of our 125,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Buffalo NY, Stark Tech manufactures renewable natural gas equipment for every conversion stage of the dairy farm process after the anaerobic digesters.
Dairy farms hold immense potential as contributors to sustainable energy production. By embracing renewable natural gas technology, these farms can mitigate their environmental footprint while continuing to meet the growing demand for dairy products. With companies like Stark Tech leading the charge, the path to a greener, more sustainable agricultural sector is within reach.
Stark Tech delivers scalable turnkey solutions for upgrading biogas to renewable natural gas. Our team of experts provides in-house engineering, design and drafting, compression skid fabrication, and customization of equipment solutions for your specific project requirements. We work diligently to support converting dirty gas into clean, green, renewable natural gas to pipeline quality standards. For more information, download our RNG capabilities brochure.
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Stark Tech is a market leading technology provider, delivering turnkey solutions with master systems integration, equipment, and service, and building analytics that drive sustainability goals and keep facilities on their mission. Stark Tech also manufacturers large, skidded equipment that decarbonizes and reduces greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy sources and by converting waste into renewable natural gas.
