Gas from cow manure produces biomass, or "cow power" electricity by utilizing a biomass digester which creates methane gas to run an internal combustion engine. The engine turns a generator which makes electricity.

How does it work?
A manure digester collects and breaks down manure and to capture the resulting gas. Bacteria in the digester decomposes the manure to release biogas, which is 55-70 percent methane. The biogas is then piped to an engine which burns the gas and turns a generator to produce electricity.

The electricity is sold to Great River Energy, our wholesale electricity cooperative which distributes it to ECE members and other Minnesota electric cooperatives as biomass energy.

Additional information