Penn State Agricultural Digester

Project Details

A new replacement barn and an anaerobic digester system was constructed to improve manure handling at Penn State’s Dairy Complex. The objective was to reduce odor, increase field manure application, recycle sand bedding materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide an upgraded dairy facility. Manure management is handled by a sand separation system to reduce the needs for sand bedding material. The energy released from the anaerobic digestion process is converted to electricity and hot water by way of a new combined heat and power generator. This energy is used to power the digester and support buildings.