Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. & Giacomini Dairy
Point Reyes, CA
Dimensions 4 Engineering Inc. in collaboration with Doug Williams, of Williams Engineering Associates, Woodland, CA, consulted and assisted in the design and construction of a manure digestion & power generation system for the Giacomini Dairy and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, located in Point Reyes. This project would allow the Giacominis’ to utilize their most abundant, non typical, renewable energy source; the manure and cheese waste from their facilities. Through anaerobic digestion, methane rich biogas is created. The project began producing renewable energy in June of 2009. In 2011, this project received the Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (A.C.E.C.) for Renewable Energy Generation.
The electricity generated provided a substantial portion of the electrical requirements for dairy parlor and the cheese plant through a net-metering interconnection agreement with PG&E. The heat from the generator exhaust system is captured and used to produce hot water for the facilities. The liquid byproduct is a highly quality fertilizer and valuable soil amendment. The covered lagoon provides for an improved wastewater treatment, reduces greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere and reduces the demand on the California power grid by reducing the need for electricity generated at central power plants.
Dimensions 4 Engineering, Inc. provided project management as well as a variety of civil engineering and land survey services during the course of design and construction of the digester system.
Services Details
Engineering services included:
- On-Site Grading and Drainage Design
- Lagoon –Pond Design
- Construction Cost Estimating
- Project Management and Permitting
- Construction Review
- Hydrology Studies
- Erosion and Sediment Control
Land Surveying services included:
- Topographic Mapping Surveys
- Construction Staking Services