Renewable Natural Gas: The ‘Next Step for Agriculture’ Has Arrived

Animal agriculture is facing public scrutiny everywhere. Lately, it’s under the microscope for its contribution to greenhouse gas. But in our energy-hungry world, animal agriculture can also be an input source for clean, reliable power, thanks to eco-friendly, on-farm renewable natural gas.

Renewable natural gas (RNG) comes from methane naturally produced by microbial activity that occurs at sources such as livestock farms and landfills. The methane is captured in onsite digesters, upgraded and then pipelined into the natural gas network.

California, which has the most stringent emission reduction goals anywhere in North America, is the leader in RNG generation. In October 2022, energy giant Chevron and CalBio, a major developer of dairy digesters for generating renewable electricity and vehicle fuel in California, announced a stepped-up commitment to RNG development and production at seven dairy farms in Merced County.

Unique challenges
In Canada, generating RNG has its own unique challenges. The wide variations in outdoor temperature can influence the methane-generating bacteria’s performance. However, an expert team of engineers and technologists has now made operational the first RNG installation in Ontario at Stanton Brothers, one of the province’s leading dairy operations, near Ilderton, about 20 kilometers northwest of London.

Proponents like technology consultant Nick Hendry, part of the team that developed the groundbreaking installation with farm owner Laurie Stanton, are convinced this renewable power source will help reliably, economically and efficiently meet Ontario’s needs. And it offers new profit potential for farmers with a 5-7-year payback. 

RNG production is the latest chapter in the Stanton family’s ever-evolving story. It began shortly after the turn of the 20th century when family patriarch Herbert Stanton was active buying and selling farms in southwestern Ontario. In the 1960s, the family established its operation, then consisting of 40 cows, just outside of Hyde Park, about 15 minutes from London.

At the time, Hyde Park was a typical rural community. Farms such as the Stanton Brothers helped shape the community’s culture and support its economy.

But through the decades that followed, Ontario went through a huge expansion. Many small villages and towns around major cities like London became bedroom communities. At the same time, farms were growing. The Stantons, for example, had increased their herd size appreciably. They were developing an international reputation for quality dairy genetics. And they needed some elbow room. Hyde Park was becoming a tight squeeze.

So Laurie Stanton started searching for somewhere to relocate. That led him to a 350-acre parcel near Ilderton, about 20 minutes away. The location was ideal with good wells and high, breezy land, ideal for the kind of naturally ventilated livestock barn he wanted to build. And although it wasn’t far from steadily expanding Hyde Park, it was remote enough that development was not imminent.

Over time, the family added a total of 1,400 more acres from the Ilderton area, then relocated the entire operation there in 2006. By that time, the herd was up to 550 cows.

Sustained growth
The growth that followed the relocation was phenomenal. The Stanton operation, which now totals 30 employees, 2,000 acres and 1,000 milking cows, includes some of the best dairy livestock anywhere. The family’s livestock became renowned for confirmation and production, incorporating genetics from cows such as the former No. 1 Holstein, Wabash Way Emilyanne. In 2010, Laurie Stanton was proclaimed a Master Breeder, the most coveted award for Canadian Holstein breeders.

Bolstered by their success, the family created Stanton Genetics in 2021. Today, half of Canada’s top 10 dairy cows are from the Stantons, and they have more bulls in Canada’s top genetics lineup than any other AI organization. Their bull, Remover PP, is the world’s top homozygous polled bull with genetics available.

“We’ve put a lot of effort in the last 10 years to get genetics up to non-polled quality, and we are very satisfied with the results,” Laurie says. “At some point, I imagine the industry will be legislated to not dehorn. It’s not a pleasant process and is doesn’t paint a pretty picture for the public.” 

The operation’s growth also gave Laurie and his wife Sandy’s four children the opportunity to be fully engaged on the farm. Greg takes care of crops and equipment, for which the Stantons use New Holland machinery. Jeff is in charge of feed and heifers, Amy runs the calf program, Jim has promotion and cow management in his portfolio and his wife, Nicole, looks after genetics and employee personnel. Jim’s brother-in-law, John Urbshott, runs the digester. “It needs to be run and administered on its own with dedicated management, separate from dairy production,” Laurie says. “It’s not something that can be put aside until after chores.”

On the Stanton farm, manure from the dairy barns is channeled into the on-farm digester. The digestate solids go through a composter to make them pathogen free, then they’re used for livestock bedding supplements. The methane gas and carbon dioxide produced by bacteria in the effluent is separated and the methane is then purified, compressed and injected into the pipeline grid – which conveniently passes nearby the farm–then distributed through the North American network.

The 3 million cubic metres of RNG produced on the Stanton farm each year will heat the equivalent of 1,300-plus homes.

The installation had a few challenges. For one, the installation team had to break ground with provincial authorities. RNG regulations for farms were not in place like they were for municipal sources and landfills. And further, the digester had to be fine-tuned for operational efficiency, beyond temperature variability. “A digester is finnicky, like your stomach,” says consultant Hendry. “Eating something your stomach doesn’t like can upset the bacteria and the digestion process. The same goes for the digester.”

But the Stantons were undeterred. They liked the RNG’s environmental and economic aspects, as well as the idea of generating on-farm power as a public service. After some stops and starts that included switching to a different digester design, it all came together. Laurie says community support has been positive.

“We keep people in mind,” Laurie says. “Farmers need to be aware of what their community thinks about them. We’re trying to close environmental loops.”