Bar 20 Dairy, a Shehadey family-owned and operated business in Fresno County, received $3 million in funding from the state incentive Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) in 2019, to implement a dairy digester to capture methane. The California Bioenergy dairy digester and Bloom Energy fuel cell technology have been installed at Bar 20 Dairy and are now capturing methane and generating renewable electricity without combustion.
“When I was young, my grandfather told me that we make milk for people’s children,” said Steve Shehadey, owner of the dairy farm. “That has always stuck with us on the farm. We can’t offer anything but our best to the children and the families who buy our milk. Today, that also means doing what we can to help clean the San Joaquin Valley air and to be part of a climate solution.”
Data collected over the year after its implementation show that the installation of a dairy digester has helped the dairy cut emissions by nearly 374,390 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This first-of-its-kind fuel cell technology is powering BMW electric vehicles throughout California providing clean power to over 17,000 EVs per year, as well as an onsite microgrid for dairy operations. This new innovative technology provides critical methane reductions to help the state meet its climate goals and provide local air quality benefits while furthering the State’s ambitious clean transportation goals.
“Digesters are a great solution to address climate issues in California. This project would not have been possible without the DDRDP grant. The dairy is now working with H2B2 to provide additional dairy biogas to produce renewable electricity that is used in the production of hydrogen transportation fuel”, said Steve Shehadey, owner of the dairy farm.
The Shehadey’s consider this project to be one of several ongoing investments in climate-smart dairy farm practices. The dairy also continues to adopt new strategies to ensure the best possible animal health and comfort. In 2020, the dairy began implementing an electric feed mixing system that significantly reduced the use of diesel for daily activities, to improve air quality. Barns are lighted with 100 percent LED bulbs, and electricity needs are offset by a two-megawatt, on-site solar array. By supplying milk to the Producers Dairy Foods plant, the farm provides fresh milk daily that helps nourish local communities.