Moo-ving Methane: Converting Ohio’s dairy farm manure into an energy source.

Program Overview

For the past several decades, environmental and sustainability professionals have sought to identify strategies to limit the release of methane (CH₄), a greenhouse gas known to be 28 times more potent than Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)¹, into our atmosphere. Dairy farming and cow husbandry contribute to methane emissions in multiple ways, including through cow digestive processes and the production of manure². While both methane-producing processes can impact our climate, some studies show that the impact of methane released from cow manure might be underestimated³.

On the other hand, as the world increasingly recognizes the need to transition to clean, sustainable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions⁴, there is an opportunity to leverage the bioenergy potential of manure to contribute to regional clean energy supply advancement, including here on Ohio's dairy farms. Resultingly, there is a tremendous need for innovative solutions that can mitigate the impact of methane dairy farming on our climate.

Join this EPN event, sponsored by the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State University, to learn about methane-capturing technologies implemented by IGS Energy on dairy farms, which contribute to energy supply diversification, climate change mitigation, and soil health. You'll hear from a multi-sector team of Ohio-based agricultural engineers, energy providers, and a dairy farmer from Sidney, Ohio, who have teamed up to convert manure methane into bioenergy.

References

Agenda

7:15 a.m. Doors open at Ohio State 4-H Center; Coffee served for in-person attendees.  

7:40 a.m. Breakfast buffet served for in-person attendees.  

8:00 a.m. Livestreaming service begins for virtual attendees.   

8:10 a.m. Tim Haab, PhD, director, Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR), and Josh Knights, director of partnerships, Sustainability Institute at Ohio State, provide welcome remarks.

8:20 a.m. Jordan Couch, senior manager of biogas operations, IGS Energy, will walk through the purpose and potential of IGS Energy’s biogas operations in dairy farming communities, with a specific focus on Sidney, Ohio. 

8:30 a.m. Eddie O’Donnell, dairy farmer and biogas energy operation owner, and Scott Higgins, CEO, Ohio Dairy Producers Association, will share the perspective of dairy farmer owner-operators on the value of biogas projects for converting manure into energy sources.

8:45 a.m. Ajay Shah, PhD, professor, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) at Ohio State, and Frederick Michel, PhD, FABE, will provide an overview of future research-based prospects for mitigating methane and converting biomass into clean energy.

9:00 a.m. Expert panel on innovative strategies to create win-win-wins for methane capturing, clean energy, and farmers’ livelihoods with Couch, O’Donnell, Higgins, Shah, and Michel. Moderated by Knights.   

9:10 a.m. Audience in-person and virtual question and answer session.  

9:30 a.m. Dr. Haab concludes the EPN Breakfast program component. Livestreaming service concludes for virtual attendees. 

9:35 a.m. Open networking session for in-person guests in A.B. Graham Hall.

Speakers

Jordan Couch, senior manager of biogas operations and maintenance, IGS Energy 

Jordan Couch is the Senior Manager of Biogas Operations and Maintenance at IGS Energy, where he oversees the operations of anaerobic dairy digesters and a Biogas decanting facility. His expertise lies in managing compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facilities for light-and heavy-duty vehicles, providing clean fuel alternatives to diesel. During his time with IGS, Jordan has worked closely with organizations such as the City of Columbus Transit Authority, Rumpke Waste Services, and Montgomery County to support their transition to clean energy. He also collaborates with Ohio based partners like Ariel Corporation to integrate high-pressure compressor technology into operations, ensuring efficiency and reliability. He holds numerous industry certifications from Angi Energy, Ariel Corporation, PSB Dryers, Swagelok, Krause, API, and Altec Eco. Jordan is also a member of the American Biogas Council and has completed biogas design and operations training at Michigan State University. His commitment to advancing renewable energy and sustainability has been a cornerstone of his career.

Eddie O’Donnell, owner and manager, Irish Acres Dairy

Eddie O’Donnell was born and raised in Donegal in the north west of Ireland. Following completion of Ag college in Ireland, he spent 10 years managing a large scale dairy farm for Almarai Dairy Co. in the middle east. After a few years back farming in Ireland, he relocated to the US with his wife and three children. Along with his business partners, he has owned and managed Irish Acres Dairy in Indiana and Ohio for the last 20 years. The two dairy farms have been expanded to a combined total of 3,500 cows today. The Butler, Indiana dairy supplies milk to Prairie Farms in Fort Wayne and the Sidney, Ohio dairy supplies DFA. The farms currently are being installed with methane digesters, with the project being run by a company called Dairy BC.

Scott Higgins, president and CEO, American Dairy Association Mideast; CEO, Ohio Dairy Producers Association

Scott Higgins serves as President and CEO for the American Dairy Association Mideast, the farmer funded dairy promotion program that serves dairy farmers of Ohio and West Virginia.  In addition, he is also the CEO for the Ohio Dairy Producers Association which advocates for dairy farmers on legislative, regulatory and policy issues. Scott grew up on a dairy farm and has deep rooted convictions to the dairy industry.  He has a passion for helping dairy farmers by promoting milk and dairy products and through educating our society about dairy farming and the nutritional benefits of dairy foods.  

Ajay Shah, PhD, professor, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) at Ohio State 

Dr. Shah’s research program focuses on engineering sustainable solutions to produce diverse biomass, including alternative natural rubber, energy, and feed crops. He also has expertise in developing projects to upcycle organic wastes to attain new values, such as bioenergy sources. Dr. Shah received his PhD from Iowa State University in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, his MS from Mississippi State University, and his BE from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

Frederick C. Michel Jr., PhD, professor, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering 

Dr. Michel's group conducts research in composting and biogas production during anaerobic digestion, among other wide-ranging topics. He serves as the editor of the journal Compost Science and Utilization, is a board member of the Organics Recycling Association of Ohio, and is the President of the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network, in addition to several more leadership positions. He teaches the Ohio Compost Operator Education Course, Solar Energy Systems and FABE courses related to biomass conversion. He has published more than seventy peer reviewed scientific papers.

Josh Knights, director of partnerships, Sustainability Institute at Ohio State University

As director of partnerships for the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State, Josh develops strategic relationships between Ohio State and major stakeholders, including businesses, government agencies, and local communities, to help solve global sustainability challenges.  He also works with colleagues across the university to leverage Ohio State’s core strengths in research, teaching, and using campus as a living laboratory in the fields of sustainable energy, circular economy, ecosystem health, smart and resilient communities, and sustainable resources. Prior to joining Ohio State in 2018, Josh held leadership positions at The Nature Conservancy, including Executive Director of the Ohio program and Director of Corporate Partnerships. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in international relations from The Johns Hopkins University.

Additional Information 

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, please reach out to Hallie Stelzle, EPN Program Assistant (stelzle.2@osu.edu). Requests made five business days in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access. However, we will make every effort to meet requests made after this time frame. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs. 

Masks are optional for all event attendees at this event, in accordance with Ohio State’s Safe and Healthy Protocols as of this date. In-person attendees will be expected to follow Ohio State protocols regarding the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. More health and safety information available on this Personal Safety Practices page.