Cows to Kilowatts: Turning Dairy Waste Into Hydrogen

A California venture aims to turn cow methane into clean hydrogen fuel

13 Oct 2025

California’s dairy farms may soon power more than breakfast tables. Maas Energy Works is partnering with Utility Global to turn methane from cow waste into low-carbon hydrogen, a fresh twist in America’s clean-energy race. The plan, announced in October 2025, is still on the drawing board but could signal a new chapter for rural renewable power.

The concept is deceptively simple: capture methane from dairy digesters and convert it into hydrogen without tapping the electrical grid. Utility Global’s new “H2Gen” system is designed to produce roughly three tonnes of hydrogen a day. The companies say the process could even go beyond carbon neutral, pulling more greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere than it emits.

“This partnership is about proving that biogas can do more than just power local grids; it can help drive the hydrogen economy,” said a Maas Energy spokesperson. The company, already a major player in renewable natural gas, hopes to retool its network of dairy digesters for hydrogen production.

The timing couldn’t be better. Federal subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act have ignited fresh interest in hydrogen and other zero-emission fuels. With heavy-duty trucks and industrial users searching for cleaner alternatives, farm-based biogas could offer a faster and cheaper way to build supply.

The road ahead, however, is hardly smooth. Hydrogen infrastructure remains patchy, capital costs are steep, and long-term demand is still uncertain. Even so, energy analysts see promise in projects that link agriculture and clean tech. “The line between biogas and hydrogen is starting to blur,” said one analyst. “This is where the sector is heading.”

If it works, the Maas and Utility Global venture could show how farm waste becomes a profit stream while cutting emissions. For California’s dairies, manure might no longer be a mess to manage but a resource to refine. And for the broader energy transition, it’s a reminder that even the humblest source can help fuel a cleaner future.