UNITED STATES.
JBS-SWIFT GO ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY.
The plant is being built by Environmental Power Corporation for JBS Swift in Nebraska.
Environmental Power’s subsidiary Microgy, Inc. have constructed, own and operate the renewable energy production facility and sell its gas to JBS Swift pursuant to a 15-year purchase agreement.
The facility will use proven anaerobic digester technology to convert animal waste and other byproducts of the JBS Swift plant into a methane-rich biogas to be used as fuel in the plant’s existing boilers. At capacity, the facility is expected to generate 235,000 MMBtu per year – the energy equivalent of 1.7 million gallons of oil – and will offset approximately 25% of JBS Swift’s annual purchase of natural gas. In addition to reducing the plant’s dependence on fossil fuels, JBS Swift will be able to reduce the land application of organic waste materials from its operations.
The $7 million complex if being financed by the Environment Power Corporation.
"The meat processing industry represents an important market for our co-digestion systems to produce renewable biogas," said Rich Kessel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Power. "The facility at Grand Island is our first inside-the-fence industrial project and demonstrates JBS Swift’s willingness to embrace emerging renewable energy technologies. We look forward to continuing our partnership with JBS Swift, including exploring the company’s network of processing plants to identify and develop additional facilities."
The JBS beef processing plant in Grand Island currently processes approximately 6,000 beef cattle per day and employs 2700 people. The plant is one of three similar facilities owned by JBS Swift in North America. The new biogas system will employ 3 skilled operators along with a facility manager. The gas production facility will consist of two 1.2 million-gallon digesters, as well as a purification system that cleans the gas prior to its use. The Benham Companies, LLC of St. Louis, Missouri will provide design and construction services for the project.
"With the commencement of construction on this exciting new project, the Grand Island plant is demonstrating its commitment to exploring ways to benefit both the communities we work in and our bottom line," said Dennis Sydow, Vice President and General Manager of the JBS Swift Grand Island Facility. "Our plant will benefit from a new cost-effective source of fuel derived from waste materials generated by our activities, allowing us to improve the environmental sustainability of our operations. "
The biogas plant is expected to be operational in the 4th quarter of 2008.
