Epcor manure processing plant proposed for north of Strathmore

Epcor will be hosting an in-person and virtual open house in Nightingale next week for a proposed manure processing plant called the Ardenode RNG project.

The proposed facility aims to capture methane gas from livestock manure and other organic materials and turn it into renewable natural gas (RNG).

The facility could be located 13 km north of Strathmore on about 20 acres of land on the northeast corner of Highway 564 and Range Road 253.

According to Epcor, the facility will receive livestock manure from Cattleland Feedyards Ltd. (Cattleland), as well as other organics such as fats, oils and greases from various external sources. The manure and organics (or feedstock) will be fed into anaerobic digesters where bacteria will break down (or digest) them to produce two outputs: biogas and digestate.

The biogas will be captured in the digesters and filtered to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and other impurities to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) that meets the specifications for injection into the existing natural gas pipeline system where it will be used just like conventional natural gas.

Biogas is classified as a renewable resource because the production-and-use cycle repeats continuously.

The facility will generate no net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as it captures methane that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.

The digestate (solid and liquid material) is a nutrient rich product that will be spread on to agricultural land, as is currently being done with the livestock manure from Cattleland.

Pending Provincial and County regulatory approvals, construction of the EPCOR Ardenode RNG Facility is expected to begin in spring/summer 2024, with commercial operations beginning in fall 2025.

The project is expected to generate enough renewable energy to heat 3,250 homes (260,000 Gigajoules of RNG per year). It will also create 110,000 hours of short-term employment during design and construction and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions every year by up to 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent to taking over 9,000 vehicles off the road.

A barbecue open house for the public will he held on August 23 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Nightingale Community Hall. A virtual open house will be held from August 24th to September 7th.

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