What is Anaerobic Digestion?
By Adam Voight
Roeslein Alternative Energy uses a proprietary system of technologies to capture gases emitted from animal waste through the natural process of anaerobic digestion.
Anaerobic digestion consists of a series of biological processes that break down biodegradable material, which in the case of RAE, is livestock manure. This process occurs in the absence of oxygen.
The biogas created ismostly methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2),with very small amounts of water vapor and other gases. The carbon dioxide and other gases are removed as they pass through our complex gas purification systems. Leaving only methane, which is the primary component of natural gas. Thus, RAE is creating renewable natural gas (RNG).
How RNG is used depends on its quality. At RAE, our gas has received the lowest carbon intensity score ever awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), making our gas highly sought after as a clean transportation fuel. The remaining solids can be used as a natural fertilizer and water for irrigation.
Additional benefits of capturing these naturally emitted gases are:
- A significant reduction of harmful greenhouse gases emitted into our atmosphere
- Cleaner air with nearly complete elimination of odor for surrounding residents
- Keeping rainfall out of the lagoons so it does not have to be cleaned using carbon-sourced electricity before being land applied
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