The Hurdles to Greater Adoption of Anaerobic Digesters

Abstract

Design of government policies that seek greater adoption of anaerobic digesters can benefit from a greater understanding of the motivations for adoption. Using a nationwide survey of U.S. dairy and swine producers, this study seeks to determine how policies, peer group influences, environmental beliefs, and farm characteristics affect the decision to adopt a digester. Results suggest that neighborhood effects, farm type and size, and nonmarket benefits of anaerobic digestion are important for predicting whether or not a producer will consider this technology for manure management. However, the decision to actually adopt is more dependent on government policies and economic considerations.

Spatially Mediated Peer Effects in the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Practices

“…Baerenklau (2005) used the number of members in the defined peer group as the measure of peer-group influence to examine whether a producer will consider adopting an anaerobic digester. More recently, Cowley and Brorsen (2018) used the number of in-state neighbors as the measure of peer group influence on the adoption of anaerobic digesters. We used a distance-based approach to define who would be included in the peer group of the focal farmer.…”

Economic Feasibility of Anaerobic Digestion With Swine Operations

“…Government grants paid for a percentage of the capital costs of constructing the biodigesters or covered lagoons. Cowley and Brorsen (2018) found that government grants were a key reason that producers adopted anaerobic digesters. The average of those receiving government grants is included in Figure 2 and was included in the NPV analysis.…”

Poo Power: Revisiting Biogas Generation Potential on Dairy Farms in Texas

“…Digester installation costs vary widely and are often cited as a barrier to adoption (Cowley and Brorsen, 2018b), but the economic benefits of adoption for producers can include the following: electricity generated for on-farm use; electricity sales in local markets; heat; and on-farm fertilizer, animal bedding, and compost production (EPA, 2018). Biogas generation also affords environmental benefits such as reducing odor from manure, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing pathogens, and decreasing weed seed germination (Yiridoe, Gordon, and Brown, 2009).…”