A few ways to find anaerobic digester designers/consultants:
• Do research: Consult resources such as the U.S. EPA AgSTAR program www.epa.gov/agstar/ and your state department of agriculture and/or environmental protection.
• Visit university Web sites on biogas production and manure management (such as the Pennsylvania State University biogas Web site at www.biogas.psu.edu/listdigandequip.html or the Cornell University manure management Web site at www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/Consultant/List.aspx?Service=Designer
• Contact other farms that have an anaerobic digester system in operation. Visit three farms, preferably with a digester that has been operating for at least two years. Ask detailed questions.
• When asking for recommendations on designers/consultants from other digester system owners, some things you may want to find out are:
* Why did you build a digester?
* What are the most important steps you took in making your decision?
* Who was the most helpful? Who wasn’t helpful?
* How long did it take you to learn about, plan, and implement the construction of your digester?
* How well were you able to work with the designer/consultant?
* How satisfied are you with the digester system design and layout of all components?
* Could you walk me through a typical day of operation?
* What problems have you had?
* How long did it take you to be comfortable with the digester and its operation?
* Is there anything you would do differently?
* Would you highly recommend the designer/consultant you used to design other on-farm anaerobic digester systems?
Author: Deborah Topper, Pennsylvania State University
