Xebec signs orders for Biostream units to help produce, market dairy biomethane RNG

Quebec-based Xebec Adsorption Inc. has signed the first set of task orders for an initial 18 BGX-Biostream units with Brightmark and Chevron to own project companies across the United States to produce and market dairy biomethane – a renewable natural gas (RNG).

The orders are the single largest Biostream unit commitment Xebec has yet to receive. Biostream’s containerized and modular design allows farmers to maximize revenue and gain peace of mind with the support of Xebec’s local Cleantech Service Network. The 18 units are expected to be deployed across 10 dairy RNG projects in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and South Dakota.

“Alongside our partners at Chevron, Brightmark plans to increase our RNG production ten-fold over the next four years,” Bob Powell, CEO & founder of Brightmark, said. “As the most carbon negative fuel on a lifecycle basis available on the market today, RNG is an essential tool in our global efforts to combat climate change, and, to do that, we have to establish strong partnerships with companies like Xebec that share our vision for this sector’s tremendous advancement opportunities.”

Kurt Sorschak, chairman, CEO and president of Xebec Adsorption Inc., said dairy-based RNG continues to be an important vertical because of its ability to reduce emissions from agriculture, support local communities and recycle nutrients.

“In addition, dairy-based RNG has the potential to generate higher returns compared to other renewable gas projects such as landfills, wastewater treatment plants and source-separated organics facilities,” he said.

According to the EPA AgSTAR project database, as of May 2021, there are 333 operational and under construction digester projects that accept livestock manure. The majority (approximately 82 per cent) of the manure-based digester projects are at dairy farms, and the rest are at swine or poultry farms. Of the 333 biogas projects, approximately 98 of them are producing RNG for the CNG transportation market.

According to the American Biogas Council, it is estimated that 8,574 dairy, poultry, and swine farms are primed for biogas and renewable natural gas production. Biostream is estimated to cover more than 80 per cent of these animal manure use cases with multiple standardized configurations which range in capacity between 55 to 840 SCFM (90 to 1350 NCMH).

The flow rates found in dairy farms are within an ideal operating range for Xebec’s Hy.GEN systems.