Announcing another RCM digester startup!

Castelanelli Brothers Dairy -- Lodi, CA

With flushed manure collected from approximately 2000 cows, the Castelanelli Dairy produces up to 180KW of electricity with a Cat 3406TA engine/generator unit. The covered lagoon digester design produces gas in relation to seasonal temperatures and the dairy has the option of adding a second generator to utilize the additional biogas produced during the warmer months of the year. As of October 2004, the digester is producing more than 132,000 ft³ of biogas a day which is sufficient to fuel over 220KW of continuous electrical generation.

Other potential projects on the dairy include a settling pond for solids separation, experimental biogas and exhaust gas treatment systems (for H2S and NOx reduction), and a second digester to harvest gas from the manure solids which are removed prior to the existing lagoon digester.

October 25, 2004

Questions? Contact us!

For Information Contact:

Mark Moser
CEO, RCM Digesters, Inc.
(510) 658-4466

Mining Manure for Money

Anaerobic digester designed and built by RCM Digesters, Inc. of Berkeley, CA can make profits from manure fueled electricity generation for the average California dairy.

Berkeley, CA – October 19, 2004. Larry Castelanelli’s dairy milks 1,500 cows each day. This average size California dairy has two main concerns: the cost of electricity and what to do with the large amount of manure produced by the cows. Thanks to RCM Digesters, Inc. of Berkeley, CA, Larry’s high utility bills are a thing of the past. The Castelanelli Bros. Dairy completed its startup period and began full operation of an anaerobic digester that generates enough electricity to run the dairy. The generator helps Larry Castelanelli offset one of his highest monthly expenses as it runs on the methane from cow manure - his largest waste byproduct. The anaerobic digester works by decomposing manure into biogas, which is then burned to produce electricity. “These digesters are ideal for the average California dairy. They offset monthly electricity bills which typically run thousands of dollars and they biologically stabilize a sometimes problematic byproduct.” states Mark Moser, CEO of RCM Digesters, Inc.

The investment required to build a generator is substantial so, on behalf of Castelanelli Bros. Dairy, RCM Digesters, Inc. applied for grants from USDA Rural Development and the California Energy Commission via Western United Resources Development. The grants received so far have helped to pay for about half of the equipment. RCM is not done yet – they have also submitted paperwork to PG&E requesting a small grant for Larry through the Self Generation Incentive Program, funded by PG&E ratepayers to promote alternative power sources. “It’s unusual to have a large project go as smoothly as this one has gone. RCM has done a great job with the design, equipment, paperwork, and getting everything up and running,” says Larry.

RCM Digesters, Inc. specializes in anaerobic digesters and specialized components for digester fueled generation plants. They have 41 commercial power generation plants operating; most are in the United States, six of them in California, including one at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.