Clear-Green for clean energy.

Five years ago at a trade show in Leipzig, Germany, 26-year-old Ben Voss came across biogas technology and made a connection with Saskatchewan. Here was the solution to a major waste management challenge facing intensive livestock operations (ILOs).

Biogas is used as an energy source in various countries. China has over seven million biogas plants. Germany has 3,000 plants. The gas is formed when organic material is digested by certain bacteria under anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions.

It can replace conventional electricity with the added bonus of addressing what do to with increasing volumes of manure.

"As with most ventures, the company started with a basic idea that my partners and I funded for the better part of two years," Voss said.

"We raised equity from close friends and family and started the official launch of Clear-Green. From there, we secured a relationship with SaskPower, Cudworth Pork Investors Group (CPIG) and local engineering firms. This enabled us to form a business plan that attracted bank financing and private investment to build the demonstration project at Cudworth."

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The timing could not have been better. The executives at SaskPower were keen to develop more green projects. In 2003, Clear-Green Environmental Inc., SaskPower and CPIG partnered to construct a full-scale, commercial demonstration project at Cudworth.

Liquid hog manure would be processed into renewable energy, fertilizer and greenhouse gas credits. From this facility, biogas would be produced and piped into four SaskPower microturbines.

Since July 2004, the demonstration project has produced enough electricity to power 30 to 40 houses as part of SaskPower's Green Power Portfolio strategy. This overall strategy ensures that Saskatchewan's new electricity needs until 2010 are met using renewable resources that don't emit greenhouse gas.

"I have an interest in seeing us do things that are good for the environment and as profitable as anything else. I don't see why you can't do both," says Voss.

Converting animal waste into biogas and other end products eliminates most, if not all, of the disposal challenges. Odour is reduced, as is the need for massive tracts of land upon which manure is spread. Ground and surface water are protected from possible contamination. All of this contributes to more options when it comes to selecting sites or expanding the operation.

The technology is best suited to agricultural waste, especially liquid wastes, but with some modifications, other wastes like dry poultry manure have potential. Ideal clients include slaughter plants, food processing plants, fish processing plants, municipalities, cities and towns.

The technology can't treat paper, wood waste or more difficult materials. "If it takes a long time to decompose in nature, it is typically tougher to deal with," says Voss.

Biogas is more expensive than conventional sources of power, but Voss says, "As time moves forward and oil prices rise, we will see our technology become a more competitive and cost effective alternative. If oil remains above $50 a barrel, we are very cost competitive."

Will the biogas industry develop here to the extent that it has in China? "It would be great if it did, but I don't see it happening," says Voss. "The driver in China is population density and closer proximity to streams you can use for biogas. There will be growth here, but to what extent, I don't know."