Vanguard AD installation goes online in Wisconsin

Vanguard Renewables, a Massachusetts-based provider of organics diversion and energy conversion systems, has opened its newest anaerobic digestion (AD) and depackaging facility, located at family-owned dairy farm Dinnerbell Farms in Eden, Wisconsin.

The AD system in Eden will convert food and beverage waste, including both packaged and unpackaged materials, into renewable natural gas (RNG), liquid digestate products for land applications, and animal bedding, according to Vanguard.

“With Dinnerbell Farms and our feedstock partners, we are not only keeping food waste out of landfills but creating meaningful value for local farms and food producers,” Vanguard Renewables CEO Michael O'Laughlin says.

“This facility exemplifies how both food and beverage waste can become a resource, supporting the farming community while offering manufacturers and retailers a scalable, cost-effective way to de-risk their operations and meet sustainability goals."

Although Vanguard says the AD unit in Eden already is nearing full capacity, the company still is seeking select types of feedstocks to round out its intake mix.

Vanguard’s list of “ideal partners” include companies in retail, food manufacturing, beverage manufacturing, cold storage, distribution and organic materials management.

For food and beverage companies navigating regulatory pressures, rising landfill costs and Scope 3 emissions targets, AD offers an effective solution to reduce environmental impact and operational risk without compromising cost efficiency, says the technology provider.

Vanguard, which is a portfolio company of the Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) fund of global equity BlackRock, says a second Wisconsin site is being installed at Peterson Family Dairy in River Falls, Minnesota, located about 35 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul. That site will begin accepting materials later this year.

One organics provider to Vanguard’s AD systems is packaged meats producer Johnsonville LLC of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, which is about 30 miles from Eden.

“At Johnsonville, we’re always looking for smart, responsible ways to reduce waste and operate more sustainably,” says Stacy Gantner, a senior director involved with supply chain finance and enterprise sustainability at Johnsonville.

“Partnering with Vanguard Renewables allows us to turn organic materials into clean, renewable energy right here in Wisconsin. It’s a solution that aligns with our commitment to innovation, stewardship and strengthening the communities we serve.”

Vanguard says the RNG generated by Vanguard’s projects frequently is purchased by companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, including those with high energy usage and operations that are difficult to electrify.

The AD systems provider, which has issued an aggressive growth plan, says it is actively developing new sites and is in various stages of siting and permitting in more than 30 markets nationwide.