Canadian biogas facility to utilise animal carcasses

Lethbridge Biogas in Alberta, Canada is increasing its waste division stream by taking advantage of thermal hydrolysis technology from PlanET Biogas Solutions.

For the last four years the 2.8 MW biogas plant in Lethbridge, Alberta has produced enough electrical energy to power 2,800 homes while diverting 120,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year.

The facility is the largest farm based anaerobic digester/co-generation facility in Canada. It has the capacity to produce up to 4.2 MW of electricity in the future if new generating units are added.

With the hydrolysis expansion, Lethbridge Biogas is permitted to increase its waste division to include the processing of deadstock as well as other animal waste products. The use of animal carcasses as a feedstock will not only increase the facility’s renewable electricity generation, but also recover valuable nutrients for use on the land.

The hydrolysis system installed by PlanET is a high temperature and pressure sterilisation unit which treats the incoming material at 180 degree C and 10 bar in 40 minute batches.

According to a press release, it is the world’s first hydrolysis system operating at this specific temperature and pressure combination. The residual heat from the hydrolysis process can be partly used to supply the digesters with heat.

In addition, the process will have a positive effect on the amount of carbon offsets created by Lethbridge Biogas. Increased amounts of renewable electricity as well as increased amounts of organics diverted from landfill will help to push the volume of carbon offsets created annually with the project towards 30,000 tCO2e.

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