Key Takeaways
- California Bioenergy LLC (CalBio) purchased eight additional Mainspring Linear Generators for deployment in 2026.
- The systems will be installed at CalBio’s North Visalia and South Tulare biogas upgrading sites.
- Total combined capacity across five sites is expected to reach 5.3 MW by the end of 2026.
- CalBio’s operations reduce approximately 1.9 million metric tons of CO₂e annually.
- The partnership supports dairy methane reduction, rural energy resilience, and local air quality improvements.
California Bioenergy LLC Expands Waste-to-Power Capacity
California Bioenergy LLC (CalBio) and Mainspring Energy announced that CalBio has purchased eight additional Mainspring Linear Generators to be deployed this year at its North Visalia and South Tulare cluster biogas upgrading sites.
CalBio was the first dairy digester developer in the United States to deploy linear generators fueled by dairy biogas. Since its initial deployment in 2022, the company has expanded the use of the technology across multiple dairy clusters in California.
The latest installations will add 1 megawatt (MW) systems at both the North Visalia and South Tulare sites. By the end of 2026, CalBio and Mainspring expect to operate a combined 5.3 MW across five locations, including Hanford, Buttonwillow, Merced County, North Visalia, and South Tulare.
California Bioenergy's Focus on Methane Reduction and Rural Energy Resilience
CalBio’s dairy digester projects convert methane from dairy manure into renewable energy, improving air quality and generating additional revenue streams for participating dairy farmers.
N. Ross Buckenham, Chairman and CEO of CalBio, stated: “To lead the state in dairy methane emission reductions, while also supporting our local family dairies and communities, requires a constant focus on innovation as well as efficiency, resilience, and cost reduction. We’ve seen what linear generators can achieve, and we are proud to be leading in delivering the valuable benefits of Mainspring’s power design to the dairy industry.”
According to the company, CalBio’s operations account for an annual reduction of approximately 1.9 million metric tons of CO₂e, equivalent to removing more than 430,000 gasoline passenger vehicles from the road.
Technology Designed for Efficiency and Compliance
Mainspring Linear Generators were selected for their fuel flexibility, fast-ramping capabilities, and cost-effective design. The systems are designed to operate efficiently on dairy biogas while meeting strict air quality standards, including NOx emissions below 1.5 parts per million without requiring special after-treatment systems.
Adam Simpson, Chief Commercial Officer of Mainspring, said: “CalBio’s operations significantly reduce California’s dairy methane emissions and help make California dairies among the most sustainable in the world.”
The expanded deployment reinforces the collaboration between CalBio and Mainspring as both companies continue scaling biogas-to-power projects aimed at supporting environmental targets, strengthening rural energy systems, and delivering economic benefits to family-owned dairies.
