Hessels Farm
Quick Facts
| Project proponent | Jim and MaryAnn Hessels |
| Location | Hessels Farm (4844 - 112 Street, Delta, BC V4K 3N3) map |
| Technology supplier | --- |
| Digester description | 55ft round and 22ft high digester plus co-gen building (mesophilic) |
| Feedstock | Manure from 130 cows and young stock as well as fats, used cooking oils, grease, bakery waste and/or vegetable waste |
| Output uses | On-farm electricity or upgrade to natural gas, plus bedding |
| Greatest challenge | Lack of proper regulations |
| Progress to date | 8/10 |
| Anticipated commissioning | Summer 2011 |
Biography
Jim and MaryAnn Hessels and their family of seven children have been farming in Delta since 1986. While Jim grew up in the suburbs of Richmond, BC, he quickly learned all about dairy farming and has great interest in adopting new technologies and implementing ideas to enhance agriculture.
Details
How did you first hear about AD?
The Hessels first heard about AD through a friend from Holland. Their friend installed one of the first digesters in the country and encouraged them to consider building one on their own farm one day. The Hessels also heard about the technology again at the BC Dairy Industry Conference (Vancouver, 2009).
Digester location
The Hessels are looking to build the digester on their dairy farm, which is located at 4844 – 112 Street, Delta, BC V4K 3N3 (right near the Delta- Surrey border) map
Digester description
The project will likely consist of a 55ft round and 20ft tall digester that will accept dairy manure and some non-agricultural wastes. It will also consist of a 40ft by 40ft by 12ft co-generator building. While the exact design and technology provider are yet to be determined, the digester will likely be complete mix mesophilic (about 38 Celsius / 100 degrees Fahrenheit).
Feedstock
The Hessels’ digester will digest manure from the farm’s 130 dairy cows and young stock. The manure will also contain some sawdust bedding. The digester will also digest non-agricultural waste streams such as fats, used cooking oils, and grease from restaurants as well as possible bakery waste and/or vegetable waste from grocery stores.
Output use
The two main outputs of the digester will be biogas and digestate. The biogas will be used to generate electricity for both the farm and for sale onto the power grid, or it will be upgraded to biomethane (a natural gas substitute). The digestate will be used for livestock bedding for the farm as well as other farms. It will also be used as a source of organic fertilizer for other farming operations.
Project difficulties
To date, the greatest challenge facing the Hessels’ digester project is that the various levels of government in BC do not have the necessary regulations in place. Furthermore, the Hessels don’t know what price BC Hydro or Terasen Gas will pay them for their electricity or biogas.
What could be done to help reduce these difficulties?
One way to help overcome these difficulties would be to have a meeting with all stakeholders to ascertain the level of commitment they are willing to provide to help make this project as viable here in BC as it is in other jurisdictions, such as Ontario.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being excellent) how would you describe progress to date?
Eight.
Expected project milestones
- Obtain regulatory guidelines from various government departments by summer 2010.
- Obtain building permits and complete digester construction by late 2010/early 2011.
- Commission digester in summer 2011.
Do you have any advice to others potential digester operators?
One of the most important things to do before starting a digester project is to get a firm commitment from all stakeholders so that a proper feasibility study can be done.
