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Zero Cost Methane Destruction
We install HDPE covers and enclosed flares on your lagoon at zero cost. Destroy 98% of methane emissions. Earn carbon credits. Share the revenue.
$0
Cost to You
98%
Methane Destroyed
17,500
Candidate Sites
45 MMT
CO₂e Addressable/Year
A cap and flare system has two parts: a gas-tight geomembrane cover sealed over an existing waste lagoon, and an enclosed flare that burns the biogas the cover collects. The cover stops methane from venting to atmosphere. The flare destroys it at 99.5 percent or better efficiency, and destroyed methane is what carbon credit protocols measure and pay for.
A complete system costs $300,000 to $1.5 million installed, against $10 million to $50 million and up for an RNG project on the same lagoon. Under EFI's program the operator pays none of it. EFI funds the cover, the flare, and the maintenance, sells the carbon credits, and splits the revenue 50/50 once it has recovered twice its investment.
EFI USA has installed more than 500 covered lagoon systems since 1993, fabricates cover panels at three in-house facilities, and works in 25 or more states. Our standard flare is the Varec 244W enclosed combustor. Engineering detail is on the flare system specifications and digester cover pages.
How It Works
HDPE cover + enclosed flare on your lagoon, at zero cost to you.
EFI handles all maintenance, monitoring, and equipment upkeep.
Methane captured under the cover and destroyed via enclosed flare at 99.5% efficiency.
Carbon credits sold on verified markets. Revenue shared 50/50 after 2x MOIC.
Beyond Revenue
HDPE cover dramatically reduces lagoon odor, better neighbor relations and community goodwill.
Stay ahead of tightening EPA methane rules and state regulations before they become mandatory.
Verified carbon credits demonstrate real, measurable climate action to buyers and supply chain partners.
Proactive environmental stewardship builds goodwill with local communities and regulatory bodies.
The Smarter Path
RNG projects require massive scale, pipeline access, and years to pay back. Cap-and-flare makes methane destruction accessible to the other 17,500 sites.
| Metric | Cap-and-Flare | RNG |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Cost | $300K – $1.5M | $10 – $50M+ |
| Minimum Viable Scale | 500+ head dairy | 5,000+ head dairy |
| Revenue Model | Carbon credits + 45Q | LCFS + RINs + 45Z |
| Policy Risk | Low (diversified buyers) | High (CARB 2040 sunset) |
| Infrastructure | None (on-site) | Pipeline interconnection |
| Payback Period | 1 – 4 years | 10 – 20+ years |
The Opportunity
Approximately 17,500 agricultural and municipal sources emit an estimated 45 million metric tons of CO₂e annually from uncaptured methane. These sources are too small for RNG but represent a significant, addressable emissions reduction opportunity.
| Source Type | Candidate Sites | Est. CO₂e |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy Farms (500+ head) | ~5,000 | ~18 MMT/yr |
| Swine Operations (2,000+ head) | ~2,500 | ~9 MMT/yr |
| Wastewater Treatment Plants (<5 MGD) | ~10,000 | ~18 MMT/yr |
| Total | ~17,500 | ~45 MMT/yr |
Who Qualifies
Upper Midwest
WI, MN, MI, IA
Dairy dominant
Southeast
NC, SC, GA
Swine & poultry
Central Valley
CA
Dairy & CARB credits
Northeast
NY, VT, PA
Dairy
Great Plains
NE, KS, SD
Mixed livestock
Cap and Flare FAQ
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