California Bioenergy (CalBio) will install eight additional linear generators at two of its dairy cluster biogas sites in California, increasing its total deployed capacity to 5.3 megawatts across five locations by the end of 2026, Bioenergy Insight reported.
The new Mainspring Linear Generators will be set up at CalBio’s North Visalia and South Tulare cluster biogas upgrading sites, with each location receiving a 1 MW installation.
The move expands a partnership that began in 2022, when CalBio became the first dairy digester developer in the United States to use linear generators powered by dairy biogas. The initial 1 MW system was installed at its Hanford cluster upgrader. Further additions followed at Buttonwillow (1 MW) and at a standalone digester project in Merced County (1.5 MW).
CalBio said its existing projects already cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.9 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. The reduction is equal to taking more than 430,000 petrol-powered passenger vehicles off the road annually.
The company chose Mainspring’s linear generator technology for its ability to run on different fuels, respond quickly to power needs and maintain low emissions. The units emit less than 1.5 parts per million of nitrogen oxides, meeting strict air quality rules without the need for additional emission control systems — an important factor in California’s regulated air districts.
The additional installations are expected to improve energy reliability at rural dairy sites and provide an extra source of income for participating family farms.
CalBio operates dairy digester clusters across California’s Central Valley, collecting biogas from several farms for processing and power generation.
