Opportunities for Building a Farm-based Anaerobic Digester System in Ontario
Considerations and Opportunities for Building a Farm-Based Anaerobic Digester System in Ontario Don Hilborn, Engineer, By-Products & Jake DeBruyn, Engineer, New Technology Integration
INTRODUCTION
Anaerobic digester (AD) systems produce electricity and heat from the biogas produced from organic inputs. Farm-based AD systems represent a significant opportunity for farmers to capture new value from agricultural product and byproducts, and from some off-farm organic inputs. As farm-based green energy becomes a new on-farm product, more and more farmers will be looking at ways to finance and build AD systems.
This InfoSheet presents some key opportunities and issues currently identified by the authors. It is based on the information obtained at the time of writing. Since this an evolving sector with frequent new developments, it is necessary to ensure that all issues involved in building a farm-based AD system be fully explored.
To obtain more current information on any of the programs listed in the InfoSheet, directly contact the provider of the program. This contact information has been included with the description of each program. Another important source is the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Publication No. 07-015 Programs and Services for Ontario Farmers www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/07-021.htm
FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR PLANNING AN ON-FARM AD PROJECT
Canadian Farm Business Advisory Service
The Canadian Farm Business Advisory Service, a partnership between Agriculture and AgriFood Canada and OMAFRA, offers a Specialized Business Planning Service for farmers who are diversifying their business operations. This fund pays up to half the cost of hiring a business planning expert to assess the financial viability of a proposed project and to assist in preparing the business plan. Farm-based projects, with a farm family as one of the investors/owners, are eligible. Non-farmers can be part of a
INTRODUCTION
Anaerobic digester (AD) systems produce electricity and heat from the biogas produced from organic inputs. Farm-based AD systems represent a significant opportunity for farmers to capture new value from agricultural product and byproducts, and from some off-farm organic inputs. As farm-based green energy becomes a new on-farm product, more and more farmers will be looking at ways to finance and build AD systems.
This InfoSheet presents some key opportunities and issues currently identified by the authors. It is based on the information obtained at the time of writing. Since this an evolving sector with frequent new developments, it is necessary to ensure that all issues involved in building a farm-based AD system be fully explored.
To obtain more current information on any of the programs listed in the InfoSheet, directly contact the provider of the program. This contact information has been included with the description of each program. Another important source is the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Publication No. 07-015 Programs and Services for Ontario Farmers www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/07-021.htm
FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR PLANNING AN ON-FARM AD PROJECT
Canadian Farm Business Advisory Service
The Canadian Farm Business Advisory Service, a partnership between Agriculture and AgriFood Canada and OMAFRA, offers a Specialized Business Planning Service for farmers who are diversifying their business operations. This fund pays up to half the cost of hiring a business planning expert to assess the financial viability of a proposed project and to assist in preparing the business plan. Farm-based projects, with a farm family as one of the investors/owners, are eligible. Non-farmers can be part of a