EFI USA

Zero Cost Methane Destruction

Cap and Flare Systems

We install HDPE covers and enclosed flares on your lagoon at zero cost. Destroy 98% of methane emissions. Earn carbon credits. Share the revenue.

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$0

Cost to You

98%

Methane Destroyed

17,500

Candidate Sites

45 MMT

CO₂e Addressable/Year

What a cap and flare system is

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 has served 45 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

Four Steps to Revenue from Methane

1

We Install

HDPE cover + enclosed flare on your lagoon, at zero cost to you.

2

We Operate

EFI handles all maintenance, monitoring, and equipment upkeep.

3

Destroy 98%

Methane captured under the cover and destroyed via enclosed flare at 99.5% efficiency.

4

You Get Paid

Carbon credits sold on verified markets. Revenue shared 50/50 after 2x MOIC.

Beyond Revenue

Additional Benefits for Your Operation

Odor Reduction

HDPE cover dramatically reduces lagoon odor, better neighbor relations and community goodwill.

Regulatory Compliance

Stay ahead of tightening EPA methane rules and state regulations before they become mandatory.

Sustainability Credentials

Verified carbon credits demonstrate real, measurable climate action to buyers and supply chain partners.

Community Relations

Proactive environmental stewardship builds goodwill with local communities and regulatory bodies.

The Smarter Path

Cap-and-Flare vs. RNG

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.

MetricCap-and-FlareRNG
Capital Cost$300K – $1.5M$10 – $50M+
Minimum Viable Scale500+ head dairy5,000+ head dairy
Revenue ModelCarbon credits + 45QLCFS + RINs + 45Z
Policy RiskLow (diversified buyers)High (CARB 2040 sunset)
InfrastructureNone (on-site)Pipeline interconnection
Payback Period1 – 4 years10 – 20+ years

The Opportunity

45 Million Metric Tons of CO₂e, Addressable Today

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 TypeCandidate SitesEst. 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

Program Eligibility

Dairy: 500+ head with lagoon system
Swine: 2,000+ head with lagoon system
Wastewater: Under 5 MGD capacity
Existing anaerobic lagoon (uncovered)

Priority Regions

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

Frequently Asked Questions

A cap and flare system has two parts: a gas-tight geomembrane cover sealed over an existing waste lagoon, and an enclosed flare that combusts the biogas the cover collects. The cover keeps methane from venting to atmosphere and routes it through a gas collection header to the flare, where it is destroyed at 99.5 percent or better efficiency. Destroyed methane is what carbon credit protocols measure and pay for. EFI USA has installed more than 500 covered lagoon systems since 1993.

A complete cap and flare system costs $300,000 to $1.5 million installed, depending on lagoon surface area, gas volume, and site conditions. That is one to two orders of magnitude below an RNG project at $10 million to $50 million and up. Under EFI's program the operator pays none of it. EFI funds the cover, the flare, and the maintenance, then recovers its investment out of carbon credit revenue.

EFI USA designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains cap and flare systems nationally. EFI has been building covered lagoon systems since 1993, has more than 500 of them in service, fabricates cover panels at three in-house facilities, and has served 45 states. Call (307) 264-0309 to find out whether your lagoon qualifies.

EFI standardizes on the Varec 244W enclosed combustor. An enclosed ground flare burns the gas inside a refractory-lined chamber, which gives 99.5 percent or better destruction efficiency, no visible flame, and stable operation across the seasonal swing in gas flow. Open candlestick flares cost less but do not reach the destruction efficiency that carbon credit protocols and most state permits require. Flares are sized at 1.25 to 1.5 times predicted peak biogas flow so slug loading events do not overwhelm them.

The hardware is largely the same. The difference is what happens to the gas. A covered lagoon digester sends captured biogas to an engine, boiler, or RNG upgrading train and earns money selling energy. A cap and flare system destroys the same biogas in a flare and earns money from carbon credits. Cap and flare needs no pipeline interconnection and no gas upgrading equipment, which is why it works at sites that are too small for RNG.

EFI's program targets dairies with 500 or more head, swine operations with 2,000 or more head, and wastewater plants under 5 MGD, in each case with an existing uncovered anaerobic lagoon. About 17,500 US sites fit that profile and emit an estimated 45 million metric tons of CO2e per year.

The cover membrane is engineered for 15 to 25 years of service depending on material, climate, and biogas chemistry. EFI maintains the cover, gas collection, and flare for the full term of the agreement, which typically runs 15 to 20 years, and its maintenance programs are built to keep covers in service at the long end of that range rather than failing at 12 to 15 years.

Nothing. EFI covers all installation, equipment, and ongoing maintenance costs. There is zero upfront cost to the farmer.

No. The cover sits on the lagoon. Your waste management process stays the same. EFI handles all equipment installation and ongoing maintenance.

Revenue sharing begins after EFI recoups 2x its investment (typically 2-3 years), then a 50/50 split of carbon credit revenue for the duration of the agreement.

Typically 15-20 year agreements with clear terms. Equipment is maintained by EFI throughout the entire contract period.

Simpler and more accessible. No gas upgrading or pipeline interconnection needed. We destroy methane on-site via an enclosed flare and earn carbon credits instead. Capital cost is $300K-$1.5M vs. $10-50M+ for RNG.

The HDPE cover dramatically reduces lagoon odor. Most farmers see significant improvement in neighbor relations after installation.

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Ready to Turn Your Lagoon Into a Revenue Stream?

500+ covered lagoon systems installed. 32 years of engineering expertise. Zero cost to you.

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