Industrial Anaerobic Pre-Treatment for Dairy Manufacturing

PurposeEnergy has completed construction of an industrial anaerobic pre-treatment system in Minster, Ohio, designed to manage and recover value from the byproducts of yogurt production at Danone’s largest U.S. yogurt manufacturing facility.

• The facility will enable Danone to significantly increase yogurt production capacity by providing a robust, on-site solution for high-strength organic residuals generated during manufacturing.
• The industrial anaerobic system converts them into biogas—creating a circular, energy-positive approach to production growth.
• The biogas produced will be available for on-site use, including fueling boilers and other thermal equipment.
• Reducing the facility’s reliance on conventional natural gas, lowering operating costs while measurably improving the plant’s carbon footprint.
• The system is scheduled to go online in 2026.

This project demonstrates how industrial anaerobic pre-treatment can serve as both a capacity enabler – supporting production growth, operational resilience, and long-term environmental performance in a single, integrated system.

Danone is the anchor tenant for the Minster, Ohio location, grounding the development in the needs of a global food manufacturer. As Danone continues to scale production, it requires reliable solutions that can operate continuously, integrate seamlessly into manufacturing environments.