Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program

Biogas Systems Pilot Operators' Course

Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance (OBSFA) Program Projects

Funding for Phase 1 Projects is fully allocated

Biogas systems are fuelled by renewable materials like manure, crops and crop residues and food processing by-products. These systems produce electricity and heat or replace conventional fuels like natural gas. Agricultural and food producers can supply their electricity needs and supply their excess electricity to the provincial electrical grid.

The Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program is a $11.2-million investment that will help farmers and agri-food businesses develop and build generating systems that produce clean energy, reduce electricity costs and contribute to local economies. There are two phases to the program:

• Phase 1 funding will cover up to 70 per cent of the eligible costs of carrying out a feasibility study, to a maximum of $35,000.
• Phase 2 funding will cover up to 40 per cent of eligible construction and implementation costs. The maximum total feasibility and construction cost funding is $400,000 for each anaerobic digester system.

Biogas System Benefits:

• Biogas systems use anaerobic digestion to produce methane. Methane can be used in a boiler to produce heat or in an engine connected to a generator to produce electricity.
• Anaerobic digestion treats manure and other organic materials that reduces pathogens and odours.
• The Nutrient Management Act has been amended to facilitate the use of off-farm organic materials in biogas systems.
• Biogas systems can produce clean, renewable energy that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• Biogas systems produce a new revenue stream for farm and food processing operations.

Contacts

Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
1 Stone Road West
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 4Y2

Tel: 1-888-588-4111
E-mail: biogas.program@ontario.ca

Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program

• Application Forms
• News Release and Backgrounder
• Is there capacity for your project at the local transmission station?

Factsheets

• Anaerobic Digestion Basics (Order No. 07-057)
• Anaerobic Digestion and the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (Order No. 07-051)
• Anaerobic Digestion Contact List
• Considerations and Opportunities for Building a Farm-based Anaerobic Digester System in Ontario
• Energy Yields from a Farm-based Anaerobic Digestion System
• Food-Based Inputs for Biogas Systems in Ontario: How Much is Out There?
• Nutrient Management Regulation Requirements for On-farm Anaerobic Digestion Facilities
• Large Herd Operators European Anaerobic Digester Tour Report (PDF)
• AD Techs and Specs Workshop - Canadian Pork Council - ISTMM Conference, London, ON - March 11, 2006

Additional factsheets and information is available on the Energy and Conservation and Generation webpage.

Organizations

• AgriEnergy Producers Association of Ontario

Ontario Electrical Systems Websites

• Hydro One Generation Connections
• Hydro One Distribution Generation Connections Application List (PDF)

Other Funding Sources

• Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program
• Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (Northern Energy)

Events

• OMAFRA's Biogas Systems Operators' Course from 17-20 February 2009
• 17th Annual Conference of the German Biogas Association with Biogas Trade Fair
• Growing the Margins Conference

Additional Information From Other Groups

• Cornell Manure Management
• Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Applications

Program guidelines and application forms for the program are now available online by clicking the links below, or by contacting:

Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
1 Stone Road West
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 4Y2

Tel: 1-888-588-4111
E-mail: biogas.program@ontario.ca

Phase 2 Application Form
Phase 2 Instructions
Phase 2 Application Instruction & Forms (Word Version)

Ontario Biogas Financial Assistance Program Guidebook
Ontario Biogas Financial Assistance Program Guidebook (PDF Version - 403 kb)