Idea to reality: Convert manure into renewable electricity, livestock bedding and fertilizer.
AURI’s role: In AURI’s coproducts lab, scientists assisted with the densification of dairy digester solids into a pellet form for value-added opportunities.
Outcome: The company’s three anaerobic manure digesters, installed in 2008 and 2010, capture methane, a natural gas substitute that can be burned for heat or electricity. The digesters, which represent millions of dollars of public and private investment in renewable energy technology, “have exceeded our expectations for gas and electricity production” says Adam Zeltwanger, Riverview business developer.