News Manure
FrieslandCampina and Rabo are focusing on manure fermentation
Rabobank and FrieslandCampina have joined ReFerm, a consortium of nineteen organizations that has a total concept that ensures maximum reduction of both ammonia and methane while simultaneously producing green gas, electricity and a fertilizer substitute. Rabobank sees ReFerm as a partner to solve bottlenecks - of which legal assurance of emission reductions in permits is a very important one - 'so that the way is cleared for a broader roll-out of mono-manure fermentation in the Netherlands'.
"A number of ReFerm's objectives are to accelerate permit granting, gain insight and learn from existing digesters, and create preconditions for a robust revenue model. Both Rabobank and FrieslandCampina are valuable partners in achieving these goals," says consortium manager Sietse Draaijer in a statement.
With mono manure digesters, livestock farms can reduce their nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions. They also convert manure into biogas, which can be supplied to the gas network for a fee. However, the costs are high and difficult to finance. According to Rabobank, the installation will cost at least €1,5 million for upgrading the gas to natural gas quality, stable adjustments, infrastructure and post-storage for the digestate. Too few projects can still be financed by a bank, according to Rabobank. The bank attributes this to 'the limited licensing and the current subsidy level'. Rabobank hopes to be able to remove the barriers together with the partners - based on evidence with practical figures and by legally guaranteeing emission reductions in permits.
FrieslandCampina has been active in the field of mono-manure fermentation since 2016, the cooperative writes on its website. "Together with member dairy farmers, we have built up a lot of knowledge and experience that we will contribute as a consortium partner. FrieslandCampina also facilitates knowledge sharing between dairy farmers through, for example, workshops and study groups."
Preferably more than 15.000 tons of manure at one location
Marijn Dekkers, Dairy Farming sector manager at Rabobank, says in the bank's press statement that the objective of ReFerm, a future-proof agricultural sector, fits seamlessly with the bank's goal: 'a responsible food chain for future generations'. "Rabobank's vision is that future-oriented livestock farming will be low-emission by 2040 and this can be achieved by, among other things, placing a digester on the property or supplying (fresh) manure to a digester. Based on twenty years of experience in financing biogas installations, we see a professional digester of preferably more than 15.000 tons of manure at one location as the most future-proof model. At this size it is also more interesting to use a nitrogen stripper, and therefore the production of fertilizer substitutes."
Linda van Eekeres
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