Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my site is viable for a biogas facility?

Some of the key factors that impact viability include:

1. Volume. Large volumes of waste are required to achieve economies of scale. For projects involving dairy manure, for example, a viable system typically requires waste generated by at least 2,500 cows, which can come from a single dairy or be aggregated from multiple dairies located in close proximity.

2. Waste Management. Your current waste handling practices can impact both the equipment required to process the waste feedstock prior to loading into the anaerobic digester as well as the project’s carbon intensity score, which can significantly impact the volume of credits generated under various environmental incentive programs such as California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

3. Location. A complete biogas facility typically includes waste handling equipment, large anaerobic digestion tanks, gas conditioning and upgrading equipment, and a network of tanks, pipes, and heating elements connecting it all. Therefore, dedicated land is needed to house all of this equipment on site. Additionally, the project site must be proximate to an interconnection point where the RNG can be injected into an interstate natural gas pipeline.

If your site satisfies these criteria, a biogas facility may be a viable solution for enhancing your waste management capabilities, improving water quality, and reducing odors while offering an incremental revenue stream that offers diversification from your core business. In addition to RNG, biogas facilities generate carbon dioxide and liquid and solid byproducts that can be used for high-quality bedding and/or fertilizer, which can be returned to your operation or sold for use off site.

How customized are methane digester projects? My operation has some unique challenges.

No two projects are identical, making the experience of the SKS team critical for overcoming complex challenges. We fully vet every opportunity from regulatory and market conditions to current operational challenges and long term goals. We avoid cookie cutter solutions, and instead evaluate and assess your needs before determining the equipment and design that will deliver the optimal solution for maximizing potential economics while addressing your growth and sustainability objectives.

Who operates the biogas facility after construction?

Depending on the size of the facility, project hosts may choose to operate on their own or engage a third-party such as Taurus Biogas that specializes in the operations, maintenance, compliance, safety, and risk management aspects of biogas facilities – all with a focus on maximizing gas production and driving operational efficiencies. By utilizing an outside organization to run the operations, the site owner can focus on what they know best – their farming, food processing, or waste treatment operations.

Is SKS Development associated with any trade or industry groups?

SKS Development is a member of American Biogas Council, a national trade association championing the growth of the biogas industry, and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, a public policy advocate and education platform for renewable natural gas (RNG) in North America.