In the United States (US), California Bioenergy LLC (CalBio) has announced the successful completion of its 78th dairy digester project in the state of California, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to promote sustainable energy solutions and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
As of the end of 2024, with the addition of eight dairy digester projects in South Dakota (SD), CalBio has a total of 86 operating digesters built in partnership with 94 dairy farm families.
With the commissioning of its newest dairy biomethane cluster in Hilmar, CalBio now operates 7 clusters located across California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Clusters are groups of digesters that share a centralized raw biogas clean-up facility, where the captured dairy biogas is upgraded to biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG), and then injected into a natural gas pipeline.
In addition to clusters, CalBio is advancing the development of virtual pipeline projects and digester projects that produce clean electricity for dairies separated geographically from other farms.
Completing thirty dairy digester projects in 2024, bringing our total to eighty-six, extends our leadership and demonstrates our commitment to sustainable energy solutions that benefit family farms, our communities, and the environment. Farmers have learned that our projects work. And farmers and investors know that we deliver projects on time and on budget. Our experienced team of professionals proudly make things happen for both dairy farmers and the environment, said N. Ross Buckenham, Chairman and CEO of CalBio.
Through strategic partnerships with dairy farmers and capital investors, CalBio plans to continue developing digesters in California as well as other leading dairy states across the country.
This milestone is a true testament to the hard work done by all members of the CalBio team, our valued consultants, and expert contractors. However, our hard work would be futile without the significant support provided by our dairy farmer partners. Their insightful collaboration and willingness to do their part to improve the environment have been essential to the projects’ success. We look forward to operating these projects safely and efficiently while expanding partnerships with additional dairies in years to come and helping California achieve its methane reduction goals, said David De Groot, COO of CalBio.
Benefit from state methane reduction programs
CalBio has utilized the important methane reduction programs of the California Air Resources Board, California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has worked closely with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
CalBio is accomplishing the following by building and operating dairy digesters with:
- An annual production capacity of over 5 million MMBtus of ultra-negative carbon intensity RNG and electricity from captured dairy methane. The reduction of dairy methane emissions corresponds to removing 1.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) per annum.
- The reduction of odors and advancement of local air quality while also producing enhanced crop fertilizer for approximately 80,000 farmable acres.
- The certification of 48 Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit pathways by the California Air Resources Board.
- The creation of full-time jobs that benefit California communities, including specialized biogas technicians and operators to manage system performance.
- The commitment of over US$700,000 to low-income housing initiatives and local community colleges and universities, including scholarship and research programs for accomplished students.
