Township of Georgian Bluffs/Township of Chatsworth
Location
Owen Sound, Ontario
Project Type
Municipal Design/Build
Substrates
Septage,FOG,SSO Leachate, Pet Food,
Ice Cream, DAF
Design
Digester Size
1 000 m3 completely mixed mesophilic
digester
Feedstock Handling
Combined Hydrolyzer/ receiving tank100 m3
Special Considerations/ Challenges
The facility was designed to accept and process
dewatered septageas well as
solid feedstock
Development Period
2009 Project Tender
2010 Certificate of Approval for Air and Noise
Emissions
2010 Project Design and Built
2011 Project Commissioned
Process Volume
16 – 20 m3/day
Retention Time
50 day HRT
Gas Volume
50 m3/hr
Electrical Production
100 kW/hr
Available Heat
Used at facility
Digestate Volume
About 14-18 m3/day
System Performance
Gas production was substantially increased in early
2012 after owner hired CH Four Biogas for operational support
Background
New regulations
in the Province of Ontario prohibited land-application of raw septage to
agricultural farmland.In
response, the townships of Georgian Bluffs and Chatsworth sought to
collaborate on an anaerobic digester system.A public bid invitation for a design/build project was
issued and CH Four Biogas was the successful bidder.
CH Four was
chosen due to its proven track record with biogas systems, especially the
incorporation of mixed and sometimes challenging substrates.The project contract was awarded at
the end of 2010, and system construction was completed only a year later, at
the end of 2011.
While the
facility performed as designed, the owners wanted to see greater gas output
and CH Four was engaged to provide operational support in 2012.Since then, with ongoing monitoring
and timely feedmix adjustments, the system has substantially increased gas production.The digester system now accepts
locally produced organics, which has further increased system performance.
In retrospect,
it was the forward-thinking representatives of both townships that made this
system possible.Their
leadership proactively addressed environmental regulations, while at the same
time recognizing the great potential for biogas plants to create a revenue
stream for their municipalities.