Meeting to showcase anaerobic digester for renewable energy
October 21, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University expert in anaerobic digesters will discuss the development of this technology in Indiana during a presentation at Homestead Dairy LLC in Plymouth, Indiana, where a unit uses dairy wastes to generate renewable electrical power.
The Indiana Biomass Energy Working Group will have a free workshop on that topic from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 11. It will begin at Christos’ Banquet Center, 830 Lincolnway E., Plymouth, Indiana, and end with a tour at Homestead Dairy, 11505 13th Road.
There were more than 10 times as many anaerobic digesters operating in the United States at the end of last year compared with 2000, said Jiqin Ni (pronounced JEE-chin NEE), an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering who will speak at the meeting.
“Application of anaerobic digestion technology in the U.S. and in Indiana has been accelerating in the 21st century,” Ni said. “This meeting will showcase overviews of the anaerobic digester technology implementation and demonstrate a newly developed dairy manure digester system.”
The meeting will be helpful to potential biogas users, business developers, Extension educators, graduate students and policymakers.
Homestead Dairy started its digester unit in October 2013. The electrical power is sourced to Indiana residents through Northern Indiana Public Service Co.
The meeting will begin with registration at 8 a.m. There will be presentations in the morning, followed by lunch at noon and the digester tour from 1:30-3 p.m.
Also presenting:
* Allison Costa, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency AgStar program manager.
* Andy Tauer, director of livestock for the Indiana Soybean Alliance.
* Dana Kirk, assistant professor and manager of the Anaerobic Digester Research and Education Center at Michigan State University.
* Ken Jones, president and CEO of Jones Petrie Rafinski Corp.
* Chris Cummings, business development and alternative energy at MacAllister Power Systems/Caterpillar.
* Ryan Rogers, facility operator of Homestead Dairy Green Energy.
The event is sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. Participants must register by Nov. 4, providing full contact information to Chad Martin at martin95@purdue.edu or by calling 765-496-3964.
Organizers suggest carpooling to the dairy farm, as parking is limited. For more information on Homestead Dairy, visit www.homesteaddairy.com.
Writer: Carlee Glassburn, 765-496-2384, cglassbu@purdue.edu
Sources: Jiqin Ni, 765-496-1733, jiqin@purdue.edu
Chad Martin, 765-496-3964, martin95@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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