Better Farming August 2016 Farm News First > BetterFarming.com 17 MAIN FEATURE Nick Nick Hendry, Faromor sales engineer, says capturing gases like methane through anaerobic digestion to use as fuel for trucking produces nearly carbon neutral emissions, depending on the digester’s feedstock. Other benefits of anaerobic digesters Startup hurdles John Ysselstein Sr., another partner in the business, says Rural Green aims to serve up to 200 trucks a day once its first station is open. The company is looking for other local places to establish stations. From its outset two years ago, the initiative has faced immense challeng- es. Banks were skittish, but in 2014 the partners did obtain a grant of up to $500,000 under the former Ontario Rural Economic Develop- ment Fund. Obtaining permits for the natural gas station took a year and a half, Ysselstein Sr. estimates. Norwich Township council minutes from May 2015 mention objections from neighbours, mostly about noise, and a petition. In August 2015, the municipality gave the station a green light after its location was adjusted. Norwich councillors also approved Ysselstein Jr.’s application for a 500kW FIT 4 biogas anaerobic digester. Ysselstein Jr., however, says there are no plans to gener- ate electricity with the digester, noting there is already a solar FIT project at his operation and there is no capacity on his line for more. He estimates the digester to be con- structed on the farm will be roughly four times the size of most currently supplying the FIT program. Converting vehicles to run on natural gas was another major task. How difficult it was to find the appropriate equipment surprised Hendry. Compressed natural gas truck engines that have been developed in the United States might work in Canada for some applications but are too small for rural commodity transport such as milk, grains and garbage, he explains. “Our trucks in Ontario and in Canada in general are about 40 per cent heavier than any of the trucks in the United States.” He’s since found two suppliers, and Faromor has converted seven trucks to run on either compressed natural gas or diesel. Eight more are in the process of conversion. These have included the company’s service Electricity and renewable natural gas are not the only benefits an anaerobic digester offers. Nick Hendry, sales engineer with Faromor, notes the material that doesn’t turn into gas provides valuable nutrients for crops, including nitrogen. “We do take a lot of cellulose and lignin out of the digester, which is dry matter; it’s inert,” he says. “So we squeeze the digestate after it’s been digested to take all the liquid out. “The liquid has basically all the same nutrients available to plants but they’re more readily available – so instead of nitrogen and stuff being released to the atmosphere slowly over time, we apply it on the land when the plants demand it. And the plants get a better dose of nitrogen than they would if it was just applied as raw manure.” The remaining solids can be used as bedding. It helps with foot health, Hendry says. “You don’t have the problems you have with sand. Then it just goes back around and is recycled again.” BF www.AGHS.CA info@aghs.ca Brinston, ON 613-652-1010 ext.223 Brantford, ON 519-770-5852 *** NEw *** High-mount Vents The solution to moisture in grain bins. Give us a call ! On Time… on Budget ! When it comes to hard-earned dollars, no one likes unpleasant surprises. Our proposals and contracts are clear, concise, and very detailed. The minute we receive your go-ahead, we get to work. The project is entered into our automated project management tool where, equipment, and resources are allocated and scheduled. The result… a project completed on time, on budget, and unless you’ve specifically requested it, NO EXTRA CHARGES. Grain Storage Systems • Grain Bins • Hopper Tanks Grain Handling Systems • Sweeps • Conveyors • Catwalks and Towers • Unloading Systems • Grain Spreaders Conditioning Systems • Beard & Tower Dryers • Centrifugal Fans • Axial Fans • Centrifugal In-Line Fans • Heaters • Controls Feed Bin Systems • Feed Bin Systems • Flexible Auger Systems • Rigid Auger Systems