Learn more about
Anaerobic Digestion
What is Anaerobic Digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is a process where organic materials like agricultural residues, manure, and food waste are broken down by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment, producing biogas primarily composed of methane. This biogas can be upgraded into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), a pipeline-quality gas interchangeable with conventional natural gas, used for heating, electricity generation, or other applications. The residual material, digestate, is a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Anaerobic digestion offers agricultural producers a sustainable waste management solution, renewable energy production, and soil fertility enhancement.
Why consider Anaerobic Digestion in New Brunswick?
Biogas projects offer additional revenue streams for agricultural producers by utilizing organic waste. The Government of New Brunswick has initiated a program to incentivize biogas development, recognizing the opportunity and current underdevelopment. This website provides comprehensive guidance and services for interested parties in assessing and pursuing viable biogas operations. In Canada, there's a burgeoning economic opportunity in biogas projects due to increasing environmental consciousness and the demand for renewable energy. This creates a favorable market for developers seeking potential projects.
Benefits
Anaerobic Digestion offers several benefits, here are the three most significant:
Renewable Energy Production
Anaerobic digestion generates biogas, a renewable energy source primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide. This biogas can be used to generate electricity and heat, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Waste Management and Pollution Reduction
Anaerobic digestion provides a sustainable solution for managing organic waste such as agricultural residues, food waste, and sewage sludge. By converting these waste materials into biogas and digestate (a nutrient-rich fertilizer), it helps in reducing landfill usage and minimizing environmental pollution.
Resource Recovery and
Circular Economy
Through anaerobic digestion, organic waste is converted into valuable products like biogas and digestate, closing the loop on resource utilization. Biogas can be used for heating, electricity generation, or as a vehicle fuel, while digestate can be applied as a nutrient-rich fertilizer, enhancing soil quality and crop productivity.
How It Works
Thank you to the Saskatchewan Research Council for this great video.
Concierge Service
In response to the recognition that New Brunswick agricultural producers have a significant opportunity to develop commercial-scale biogas projects the Government of New Brunswick has launched a funding program to cover all of the costs to help agricultural producers and
agri-businesses in NB investigate their own potential to develop anaerobic digestion projects through a process known as a feasibility study.
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Agricultural producers are busy growing the food that feeds New Brunswickers, and so GNB, in Partnership with ResearchNB is launching a ‘Concierge Service’ to provide hands-on support to help agricultural producers and agri-businesses navigate their way through the process of applying for and conducting these feasibility assessments.
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The concierge service (for agricultural producers) is funded by the New Brunswick Climate Change Fund in support of Action #14 of New Brunswick's Climate Change Action Plan.
Benefits of ResearchNB's Concierge Service
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Convenience
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Time-Saving
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Personalized Assistance
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Flexibility and Accessibility
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Access to Expertise & Resources
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Stress Reduction
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Increased Productivity
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Cost-Effective Solutions
How to Apply
Before you apply, please make sure that you match the eligibilty criterias.
Check them out HERE.