CARLETON PLACE — Powerbase Energy Systems Inc. envisions 400 anaerobic methane digesters across Ontario providing electricity. The federal government shares the vision and provided the company with a $489,500 interest free loan to build a new manufacturing facility to produces digesters that turn manure into energy.

Powerbase was the first company in Ontario to build a methane digester, constructing one on the Klaesi dairy farm near Beachburg, in Renfrew County in about 2003. Powerbase now has other units at various stages of completion, including at the Donnan farm near Stirling. The company has plans to build a digester at Doug Cleary’s farm at Spencerville and the Schouten farm at Richmond, south of Ottawa, and has another five farms waiting in the wings.

In another year, the company will be seeking out smaller farms, says Dave Robinson, manager of sales and marketing. Larger farms are capable of producing more power for the grid and consequently can make more money.

Infra-structure can be a problem for farms. Many farms are on what is called a single phase electrical system and would have to upgrade to handle the new technology.

He says anaerobic digesters are a more reliable source of electricity than wind or sun because production can be controlled and electricity provided for peak hours.

For farmers, the digesters have additional advantages. After the carbon used for energy has been abstracted, the remaining manure is free of pathogens and 98 per cent of the smell is gone. Phosphorous and Potash remain and can be spread over the land, he says.

Cost of a methane digester that handles manure from 250 cows can start at more than $300,000.