As Chomp Energy wraps up 2025, we’re taking a moment to reflect on how far our anaerobic digester technology has come. Across four generations, our systems have advanced from early prototype to polished, high-performance equipment now powering circular solutions for campuses, communities, farms, and food systems across the country. As our founder Jan Allen officially retired at the end of November, we recognize the role he played not only in Chomp’s early development but also in helping assemble the leadership team that now guides the company.

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That team has taken the foundation Jan built and elevated it — driving new innovation, refining our systems, and leading the major advancements seen in our latest Iteration 4 unit. This retrospective honors where we started, while celebrating how Chomp’s next generation of leadership is carrying the work forward with fresh energy, new ideas, and continued momentum.

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Iteration 1: The Original HORSE — A Small System with a Huge Impact

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Our story begins with the HORSE — the High-solids Organic-waste Recycling System with Electric output — the first small-scale anaerobic digester system that proved big things could come in compact, modular form.

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Developed when Chomp Energy was still Impact Bioenergy, the HORSE was conceived and engineered by Jan, whose background in environmental engineering and decades of experience in large-scale composting inspired a more localized, community-friendly approach to food waste recovery.

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The HORSE:

• Turned nearly any organic material into clean electricity and nutrient-rich fertilizer
• Produced enough renewable energy to power an electric vehicle for nearly 10,000 miles per year
• Featured a modular, transportable design that could deploy in urban spaces, campuses, and community hubs
• Made decentralized, circular energy systems both accessible and attractive
  
  

This first iteration didn’t just work — it shifted the paradigm. It demonstrated that small-scale anaerobic digestion could thrive in real-world settings and set the foundation for everything that followed.

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Iteration 2: A Leap in Modularity and Real-World Usability

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Building on the success of the original HORSE, the second iteration streamlined the entire system into a single standard shipping container. That change may sound small — but it was transformative.

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Iteration 2 introduced:

• A fully integrated, modular, containerized design
• Scalable capacity options for different food-waste volumes
• A built-in, high-performance biofilter for advanced odor control
• Greater ease of deployment for farms, breweries, schools, and community facilities

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This version made it clear that decentralized waste-to-energy systems could be as practical as they were sustainable. The second iteration delivered the reliability and flexibility needed to bring on-site digestion to a wider audience.

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Iteration 3: The Official Start of Chomp Energy

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Iteration 3 marked a turning point — the moment Impact Bioenergy officially became Chomp Energy. With a new identity and renewed vision, the third generation brought meaningful upgrades across the board.

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Key advancements included:

• A streamlined, more intuitive input process for daily feeding
• Transition to high-cube containers, creating more spacious and comfortable operating environments
• Improved access to biofertilizer, making it easier for operators to deliver nutrients to community gardens, farms, and regenerative growers
• Industry recognition, including a U.S. Department of Energy award and placement among the world’s top later-stage clean technology companies in Taiwan
  
  

This was the chapter where Chomp’s technology evolved from a successful prototype into a recognized leader in community-scale circularity — continuing Jan’s mission of empowering local, sustainable ecosystems.

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Iteration 4: Chomp’s Most Advanced System — Built by a New Era of Leadership

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The fourth generation stands as our most capable and refined system to date. While influenced by the design foundation of earlier systems, Iteration 4 is the direct result of the innovation, leadership, and engineering strength of the current Chomp Energy team.

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In particular, Andy, John, Tim, and Taylor played key roles in elevating and reimagining the system after Iteration 3 — driving it to become the best-performing unit in Chomp’s history.

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Iteration 4 introduced:

• Enhanced odor management for even cleaner, more community-friendly operation
• Increased processing capacity with the same compact footprint
• A redesigned internal layout that dramatically streamlines workflow and reduces operator time
• Improved accessibility and serviceability for faster, easier maintenance
• A fully upgraded control system with remote monitoring, providing real-time visibility and simplified management

This generation sets a new benchmark for compact, connected, community-scale anaerobic digestion — and it reflects the collaborative innovation of the team steering Chomp forward today.

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A Legacy of Innovation — and a Future Driven by the Team

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While Chomp’s evolution has always been a collective effort, we also want to recognize the contribution of our founder, Jan Allen, who recently retired. Jan’s early engineering leadership helped establish the foundation that Chomp continues to build upon, and we’re grateful for his years of dedication to advancing community-scale circularity.

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As Jan steps into his next chapter, he leaves Chomp in capable and trusted hands. The team has carried the technology forward with vision and dedication, driving the major advancements that shaped Iteration 4 and strengthening the systems we deploy today. As we celebrate four generations of progress, we also celebrate the measurable impact these systems have made.

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Four generations of innovation. Countless tons of food waste diverted, emissions avoided, and resources regenerated. A cleaner, more resilient future taking shape, one community at a time. With a strong, forward-looking team leading the next era — and a legacy of innovation behind us — Chomp Energy is well positioned for even greater advancements in the years ahead.

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