Clarkson Biomass Group (CBG)

An interdisciplinary group of Clarkson faculty and graduate students make up the Clarkson Biomass Group (CBG), which formed to investigate and promote the conversion of manure and other wastes into biogas in the North Country of New York State.  Biogas is typically about 60 %  Methane and 40 % Carbon Dioxide.  The gas can be burned to provide heat energy or to generate electrical energy, such as by a biogas-fueled engine-generator.

Why Form a Biomass Group?

The goal of CBG research is to provide the data and understanding necessary to overcome questions of reliability and prove the economic and environmental value of digester-energy recovery systems to increase their implementation. The physical system includes the digester, energy recovery for combined heat and power, emissions to the environment, and value added products. The farmers, markets and regulatory structure comprise the social system considered in this research.

The research is generating quantifiable evidence of the technical, environmental, economic and social efficacy of this integrated system. Through data acquisition and mathematical optimization, the system can be understood well enough to ensure that the best aspects of the system can be replicated elsewhere to maximize the economic benefit to the farmer while minimizing deleterious environmental impacts.