Each spring and fall, when New Brunswick farmers spread manure to fertilize their fields, they produce a smelly reminder of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) our agricultural sector emits year-round.
Elsewhere in the world, however, agricultural producers are using manure to generate a form of natural gas called biogas. Biogas production reduces GHGs from farming, offers farmers a new revenue stream, and provides communities with clean energy. As a bonus, the residue left behind during production makes a superb, and stink-free, fertilizer.
A new provincial program is encouraging farmers to consider becoming biogas producers. It provides funds to pay for a feasibility study examining the technological and business requirements needed to bring the sweet smell of biogas prosperity to NB communities.
Biogas Challenges
Biogas is not a new form of renewable energy, but it’s been slow to catch on in Atlantic Canada because of the costs.
Biogas is generated as a by-product when organic matter is placed in a large tank, deprived of oxygen, and broken down by bacteria. This process of “anaerobic digestion” requires expensive infrastructure—including a concrete tank holding upwards of 500m3—as well as specialized software to regulate the digestion process.
Embarking on a biogas installation requires millions of dollars and a lot of patience, as it can take a decade or more to reap the return on investment. Many cash-strapped, time-strapped farmers don’t have an appetite for such risk.
Recognizing the barriers to innovation, in May of last year, the provincial government established the Anaerobic Digester Feasibility Studies Funding Program. Successful applicants will be reimbursed for up to 95% of the cost of a biogas feasibility study.
Concierge Program Accelerates Community Innovation
Danielle Connell, a sheep farmer in Lower Cambridge and long-time advocate for biogas, heads up the Biogas NB Concierge Service to guide farmers through the new funding program. She helps agricultural producers complete their application, connecting them with a network of industry and government stakeholders in the process. Later this year when the province announces the first grants, she’ll also help successful applicants navigate their study and build a business case to attract investors.
Connell describes the Concierge Service as a “homegrown program,” designed by farmers for farmers. The program is managed by ResearchNB, and she sees it as a vehicle for accelerating research and development with widespread benefits.
While a biogas project may not be feasible for a single farm, it could be viable for multiple farms or for a rural municipality. A cooperative approach could strengthen the agricultural sector and foster economic growth at the community level.
As a farmer herself, Connell sees the tremendous potential of developing a network of farm-based biogas producers for the province. By investing in agricultural innovation, the province is investing in environmental sustainability, food security, and community development over the long term.
As climate change makes the future uncertain in so many ways, Connell sees biogas as a sure bet. “It’s something [farmers] can bank on,” she says. “Perhaps these collaborative renewable energy projects are really going to help build a stronger community and more resiliency within the community.”
