A groundbreaking project in southern Alberta will utilize manure from numerous cattle to generate renewable natural gas and simultaneously sequester harmful carbon dioxide emissions. Taurus Canada Renewable Natural Gas Corp. has unveiled its innovative plan to construct an integrated anaerobic digestion and carbon sequestration facility near Lethbridge. The project has received substantial financial backing from both the Alberta and federal governments.
Upon completion of the Central Farms facility, Taurus aims to convert 130,000 tonnes of manure sourced from local cattle feedlots into 360,000 gigajoules of natural gas annually. This amount of energy is sufficient to power approximately 4,000 homes or the entire Town of Coaldale. The initiative is part of a group of six projects announced on Thursday, collectively awarded $28 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Industrial Transformation Challenge.
Taurus secured a $10 million grant from the Alberta government, along with $3.4 million from the federal Low Carbon Economy Fund. The remaining $85 million for the plant’s construction is being covered by Taurus through a combination of equity and loans. Grant Hunter, Alberta’s newly-appointed environment minister and local MLA, emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting local innovators in advancing the energy sector and benefitting both the economy and the environment.
The process of converting manure into power involves several steps outlined by Taurus. Livestock manure will be gathered from four feedlots, transported to a facility for storage, and then subjected to a pre-treatment system to create a slurry. The slurry undergoes anaerobic digestion in enclosed tanks, producing biogas and nutrient-rich digestate. Carbon dioxide generated in the process will be securely stored in a deep well.
Meanwhile, the renewable natural gas will be delivered to a nearby pipeline for distribution, and various forms of digestate will be produced for agricultural use in the region. Ryan Kasko, CEO of Kasko Cattle Company, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Taurus, highlighting the project as a natural progression in utilizing food production to generate energy. The collaboration is seen as a potential game-changer for agriculture in southern Alberta.
Overall, the Taurus facility has been praised as a landowner-friendly and environmentally responsible initiative by local advocates. Daryl Bennett, a surface rights advocate from Taber, Alberta, commended the project for its reduction of carbon emissions, efficient use of manure, and overall positive impact on the environment. The venture is expected to enhance energy security, lower carbon footprint, and contribute to economic growth without reliance on foreign trade relationships.