Storms Hog Power

Storms Hog Power in NC, with DVO's digester, transforms swine waste into renewable energy for 480 homes annually. Awarded for innovation & leading in sustainable ag.

May 7, 2015

Owner: William R. Storms
Location: Bladenboro, North Carolina
Date Built: 2013
Labor Used: [unknown]
Construction Type: [unknown]
Years in Service: 10
Energy Type: Biogas, electricity
Energy Output Average: 600kW, enough to power 480 homes/year
Input Waste: manure from 28,000 hogs
Output Byproducts: [unknown]

In the fall of 2013, Storms Hog Power put a DVO digester to work —
transforming their facility into the largest waste-to-energy operation in North Carolina. The Digester is 16 feet deep and about half the length of a football field. Each day, the digester processes appoximately 60,000 gallons of swine waste, generating enough energy each year to power 480 homes each year.

Situation

Before any digester

Conventional electricity is purchased from the utility at market rates.
Farm used open-air ponds for waste settling. Methane gas from wastes contributes to greenhouse gases at rates 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
Pathogens such as e-coli and salmonella can be concerns from the use of raw, unprocessed farm wastes.
Nuisance odor issues can result from manure storage and application.

After a DVO digester

Renewable electricity is self-generated and sold back to the utility.
Methane is consumed by the digester, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farm wastes by 94%.
Pathogens in the digested waste are greatly reduced, often to the point of non-detection.
Up to 97% odor reduction is achieved, as odor is burned away in the biogas engines.

Solution

Project at a Glance

Largest operating swine waste-to-energy system in North Carolina.
Received the 2015 American Council of Engineering Companies National Recognition Award.
Proven DVO, Inc. Two-Stage Mixed Plug Flow™ anaerobic digester (AD) technology installed and fully commissioned in Fall 2013.
Farm can now produce 600 kW of electricity, inorganic fertilizer and other useful byproducts — all from hog waste.

Details

Farm has approximately 28,000 hogs.
The digester can hold about 1.2 million gallons, accepting approximately 60,000 gallons of organic waste daily.
Digester feedstock includes swine manure and other organic waste streams.

Largest Swine Operation

Largest operating swine waste-to-energy system in North Carolina.

600kW

Electricity produced is enough to power more than 480 homes per year.

1.2 Million

The digester can hold about 1.2 million gallons, accepting approximately 60,000 gallons of organic waste daily.

Awarded

Received the 2015 American Council of Engineering Companies National Recognition Award.