The American Biogas Council (ABC) announced that 21 additional students have earned their digester operator certification after completing ABC鈥檚 Operator School and passing the certification exam. This latest cohort brings the total number of Certified Digester Operators nationwide to 96, expanding the specialized expertise available to biogas facilities across the U.S.
Certified Digester Operators play a critical role in ensuring anaerobic digesters perform optimally and safely. These systems recycle organic material such as manure, food waste, and wastewater sludge, capturing the methane-rich biogas the materials produce as they break down naturally. The biogas can be used to generate renewable electricity and heat, or to make renewable natural gas. Certified Operators鈥� specialized training covers the biological and mechanical systems that determine how well a digester functions, helping these professionals identify opportunities to improve system performance and maximize biogas volume.
Experts from industry and academia developed and teach ABC鈥檚 Operator Certification, the only program of its kind in North America. Earning certification demonstrates that these technicians have met rigorous industry standards for excellence in digester management.
To qualify for certification, candidates must complete the Operator School training course, demonstrate at least 2,000 hours of relevant experience, and hold first aid, confined space, and lockout/tagout certifications before sitting for the exam.
鈥淥perating a digester requires in-depth knowledge of both the biology and the equipment, and that understanding directly supports efficiency,鈥� said Patrick Serfass, Executive Director of the American Biogas Council. 鈥淎BC鈥檚 Operator School gives these professionals the practical tools and technical insight to evaluate performance and improve operations, which ultimately produces more energy 鈥� and more value 鈥� from the waste these systems recycle.鈥�
Operators who earned their certification this fall include professionals from Amp Americas, BerQ RNG, BTS Bioenergy, the City of Grand Rapids, Northern Biogas, Paques, Vanguard Renewables, and Veolia. 鈥淎t Amp Americas, we believe we will be more productive and operate more safely if we enroll all of our regional and facility managers in ABC鈥檚 Operator School and secure their certification,鈥� said Lou Kruger, Senior Director of RNG Operations at Amp Americas. 鈥淥ur goal is clear: invest in our people, which in turn drives higher operational performance and more biogas production.鈥�
鈥淎ttending Operator School directly translates into improved operational performance, reduced risk, and stronger leadership,鈥� said newly Certified Operator Mark French, Operations Manager at Veolia North America. 鈥淎s an Operations Manager at an anaerobic digestion facility, my focus goes beyond giving operators the tools for daily tasks. It is about providing formal operator training that fosters complete process visibility to prevent downtime, stabilize digester performance, and maintain flawless compliance.鈥�