A newly announced partnership between Bioenergy DevCo and Chesapeake Utilities Corporation will use anaerobic digestion to convert poultry litter into renewable natural gas.
The project, which will take place in the Delmarva region, is a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to current methods for disposing of organic waste produced by the poultry industry.
“We see this partnership with Bioenergy DevCo as the next important step in our commitment to operating with a focus on the environment and sustainability,” Jeff Householder, President and CEO of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, said in a statement.
“By utilizing the renewable natural gas derived from processing excess poultry industry organics in the Delmarva region and transforming that into carbon-negative energy source, we can help fuel homes and businesses throughout the community while supporting a more sustainable future.”
“Methane gas is the primary component of natural gas, as well as one of the worst greenhouse gases for the environment. The Chesapeake Utilities deal helps us clean up methane gas released by organic waste and turn it into a natural energy source that can be used to power houses,” explained Shawn Kreloff, CEO of Bioenergy DevCo.
Bioenergy DevCo began managing the Perdue Farms AgriRecycle poultry waste composting facility in Seaford, Delaware in November 2019. The facility, built in 2001, processes more than 30,000 tons of organic material each year.
A cow’s stomach on an industrial scale
Anaerobic digestion uses microorganisms to break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The process occurs in an entirely enclosed system and can break down organic matter, such as poultry litter, much faster than conventional methods.
“Anaerobic digestion is basically a cow’s stomach on an industrial scale. It processes organic material by breaking it down using natural microbes in a four-stage process, resulting in methane gas and a digestate,” said Kreloff.
“It’s like a fermentation process, but it uses different microbes to break down organic matter using chemical processes similar to the ones used to make beer.”
Like what you just read? Sign up now for free to receive the Poultry Future Newsletter.
