Fertilising the future with its own biogas plant

'The biogas plant allows me to make use of resources in the manure that previously went unused. As well as making me self-sufficient in electricity and heating, it reduces my carbon footprint,' says farmer Espen Hatlinghus.

The 45-year-old runs his family farm in Beitstad, Steinkjer, which has undergone major changes and expansion since he took over 17 years ago. Today, the farm raises calves and suckler cows and produces eggs. He also co-owns a poultry farm that supplies pullets to egg producers.

The latest addition to the farm is the biogas plant, which was completed last November. It converts the methane in the manure into 1.75 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy each year, with one-third generated as electricity and two-thirds as heat. This brings significant benefits for the farmer, as farms typically consume large amounts of electricity.

The Value Creation Programme for Renewable Energy and Technology in Agriculture has funded 41 per cent of Hatlinghus's biogas plant, which has a total price tag of NOK 13.7 million. He also receives annual operating grants for this environmentally friendly solution. He has previously received IBU funding for a new barn.

'Without our support, this would not have been financially viable,' he says.

Our customer adviser for Hatlinghus, Anders Kobro Fugleneb, confirms that Bionova is an important tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting business development in Norway's agriculture, forestry and aquaculture sectors.

Hatlinghus emphasises that the agricultural sector is ready to adapt, and that change is also becoming unavoidable.

- If we are to become more sustainable, we need support to get there, as we do not have sufficient funds to make the transition at our own expense.

The investment in the biogas plant is expected to pay for itself in around eight years. The farmer sells the surplus electricity generated by the plant to the grid company Tensio, while producing his own electricity also reduces the strain on the power grid. He also saves working hours, diesel and large amounts of water when spreading fertiliser on the fields.

'Every year, we have pumped as much as 4,000 cubic metres of water from the river to dilute the dry manure enough to spread it on the fields. The digestate, by contrast, is liquid and ready to use, and it smells less – something the neighbours appreciate,' he says with a smile.

The nutrients are also easier for the plants to absorb, which can reduce the need for artificial fertiliser.

The biogas plant also produces residual heat, which Hatlinghus plans to utilise. One option he is considering is extracting the phosphorus from the residual product, which could then be dried using the excess heat and made into pellets for sale as a fertiliser product.

'In other words, the biogas plant offers many benefits and opportunities. It may not be suitable for every farm, but if you have plenty of poultry and cattle manure with a high dry matter content, you have a good starting point,' says the farmer.

He also recommends choosing a supplier that tailors the solution to the specific needs of each farm.

The enterprising 45-year-old has invested more than NOK 50 million in the farm and thoroughly enjoys his work. At the same time, he points out that financial viability is a challenge for the industry.

'The investments have yet to be matched by the profits, and an industrial operation with the same output would have far more employees. There are only three of us here, so I have to take on many roles myself. Many people find that challenging.'

Hatlehus hopes his eight-year-old son will take over one day, but stresses that a favourable and predictable operating environment is essential if the next generation is to produce food too.

'It is therefore very important that we at Innovation Norway offer funding schemes for strategically sound projects,' the farmer emphasises.