MANLIUS — A local business with new technology for use in production of biogas from animal waste has closed its first two commercial sales. American Biogas Conditioning’s process removes a corrosive substance from the biogas produced by anaerobic digestion. The company installed its equipment at Twin Birch farm in the town of Skaneateles in June […]
MANLIUS — A local business with new technology for use in production of biogas from animal waste has closed its first two commercial sales.
American Biogas Conditioning’s process removes a corrosive substance from the biogas produced by anaerobic digestion. The company installed its equipment at Twin Birch farm in the town of Skaneateles in June and plans to bring its system online at Roach Farm in Venice Center (Cayuga County) in September.
Anaerobic digesters use bacteria to break down animal waste into a gas made mainly of methane. The gas is then burned for energy.
The gas also contains hydrogen sulfide, which is highly corrosive if not removed, says Kamyar Zadeh, American Biogas president and CEO. Hydrogen sulfide is not normally removed from biogas before use, he adds.
Over time, the gas can damage engine gaskets and seals, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which has provided $470,000 in funding for American Biogas’ work.
The company’s process uses bacteria to convert hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid. The acid is then mixed back into discharge from digesters, which actually creates a more useful fertilizer for farmers to apply to their fields, Zadeh contends.
Other methods to remove the hydrogen sulfide exist, but they generally involve filters that must be replaced over time, Zadeh explains. That drives up costs.
American Biogas is a subsidiary of Blue Electron, a Manlius–based company that works on digester projects. Blue Electron launched American Biogas as a joint venture with TS Umweltanlagenbau GmbH, a German manufacturer with additional expertise in the biogas field.
Blue Electron had been working with the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District on a digester project. American Biogas, founded in 2009, and its system grew from that project, Zadeh says.
The company tested the system at the conservation district’s digester, located in Auburn.
The potential for the company is strong, Zadeh adds. He estimates there are 160 digester projects around the country that could benefit immediately from American Biogas’ system.
The technology has other potential applications in municipal wastewater treatment, Zadeh says. It’s a field American Biogas leaders are just beginning to explore now.
In that market, there are about 1,200 units across the nation that are potential American Biogas customers, Zadeh contends.
The firm currently employs four people full time and four people part time. The company could eventually grow to produce about 40 of its systems per year and employ 40 people, Zadeh says.
Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com