The pilot project demonstrates the role BHSL’s technology can play in addressing the environmental challenges the US state faces from its large poultry industry.
Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan will launch the project at 7.30pm Irish time on Monday 13 February.
The event will take place at poultry farmer Bob Murphy’s 112-acre farm in Rhodesdale, Maryland, where a BHSL unit was installed in October 2016. It is currently operating in one chicken house, but will extended on a phased basis for use across four chicken houses on the farm over the 12-month trial period.
With the US producing around 9bn chickens each year, BHSL is targeting it as a key export market
BHSL’s technology works by converting poultry manure into energy, which is then used to provide heating for future batches of chicks or for electricity generation which can be used to cool sheds in the hotter summer months.
Over 300m chickens are produced in Maryland each year and around 1bn in the wider Chesapeake Bay area (12% of total US production), resulting in an estimated 1.2m tonnes of manure. This is contributing to pollutants that flow into the bay, causing severe environmental problems including algal bloom and damage to fish and shellfish stocks.
With the US producing around 9bn chickens each year, BHSL is targeting it as a key export market and has conservatively estimated the market opportunity at over $500m. Enterprise Ireland is an investor in the company and has provided support in developing relationships in the US market.
Raising over €8m in new equity
BHSL has recently completed the first tranche of a fundraising round that will raise over €8m in new equity to support the company’s growth plans. The second tranche is expected to close before Easter in a process run by Focus Consulting.
Commenting on the project, BHSL chair Denis Brosnan said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming the governor to see first-hand how BHSL is making good on its mission to transform poultry production. Farmers using our system can transform the environment in their chicken sheds and enjoy improved efficiencies and profitability. We have a technological solution that can help address the pressing challenge of cleaning up Chesapeake Bay and reducing the impact of manure from the poultry industry. The state’s support for this pilot project has been invaluable and we hope that more can be done to help farmers who want to use this technology to address an important environmental issue.”
Monitoring
The performance of the unit will be closely monitored by researchers from the University of Maryland. However, significant improvements have already been observed in the first flock of birds grown in the chicken house in which the BHSL unit is installed.
I strongly believe that with the restrictions the state is putting on how farmers use poultry litter, the BHSL solution is our ticket for turning manure into energy
Farm owner Bob Murphy said:
“It’s early days, but my sons and I have been really pleased with the impact of the BHSL unit,” he said. “The conditions in the chicken house have significantly improved with lower humidity and ammonia levels. We think that once we complete the pilot project, the data will encourage more farmers to consider this technology. I strongly believe that with the restrictions the state is putting on how farmers use poultry litter, the BHSL solution is our ticket for turning manure into energy. It’s a win-win for all.”
Benefits
Based on data from over 100,000 operating hours in the United Kingdom, farmers who use BHSL’s system can benefit from reduced environmental impact, lower energy costs, improved animal welfare, improved production efficiencies and additional revenue.
Read more
BHSL – Ireland’s next global agribusiness?
The pilot project demonstrates the role BHSL’s technology can play in addressing the environmental challenges the US state faces from its large poultry industry.
Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan will launch the project at 7.30pm Irish time on Monday 13 February.
The event will take place at poultry farmer Bob Murphy’s 112-acre farm in Rhodesdale, Maryland, where a BHSL unit was installed in October 2016. It is currently operating in one chicken house, but will extended on a phased basis for use across four chicken houses on the farm over the 12-month trial period.
With the US producing around 9bn chickens each year, BHSL is targeting it as a key export market
BHSL’s technology works by converting poultry manure into energy, which is then used to provide heating for future batches of chicks or for electricity generation which can be used to cool sheds in the hotter summer months.
Over 300m chickens are produced in Maryland each year and around 1bn in the wider Chesapeake Bay area (12% of total US production), resulting in an estimated 1.2m tonnes of manure. This is contributing to pollutants that flow into the bay, causing severe environmental problems including algal bloom and damage to fish and shellfish stocks.
With the US producing around 9bn chickens each year, BHSL is targeting it as a key export market and has conservatively estimated the market opportunity at over $500m. Enterprise Ireland is an investor in the company and has provided support in developing relationships in the US market.
Raising over €8m in new equity
BHSL has recently completed the first tranche of a fundraising round that will raise over €8m in new equity to support the company’s growth plans. The second tranche is expected to close before Easter in a process run by Focus Consulting.
Commenting on the project, BHSL chair Denis Brosnan said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming the governor to see first-hand how BHSL is making good on its mission to transform poultry production. Farmers using our system can transform the environment in their chicken sheds and enjoy improved efficiencies and profitability. We have a technological solution that can help address the pressing challenge of cleaning up Chesapeake Bay and reducing the impact of manure from the poultry industry. The state’s support for this pilot project has been invaluable and we hope that more can be done to help farmers who want to use this technology to address an important environmental issue.”
Monitoring
The performance of the unit will be closely monitored by researchers from the University of Maryland. However, significant improvements have already been observed in the first flock of birds grown in the chicken house in which the BHSL unit is installed.
I strongly believe that with the restrictions the state is putting on how farmers use poultry litter, the BHSL solution is our ticket for turning manure into energy
Farm owner Bob Murphy said:
“It’s early days, but my sons and I have been really pleased with the impact of the BHSL unit,” he said. “The conditions in the chicken house have significantly improved with lower humidity and ammonia levels. We think that once we complete the pilot project, the data will encourage more farmers to consider this technology. I strongly believe that with the restrictions the state is putting on how farmers use poultry litter, the BHSL solution is our ticket for turning manure into energy. It’s a win-win for all.”
Benefits
Based on data from over 100,000 operating hours in the United Kingdom, farmers who use BHSL’s system can benefit from reduced environmental impact, lower energy costs, improved animal welfare, improved production efficiencies and additional revenue.
Read more
BHSL – Ireland’s next global agribusiness?
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