RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Energy in Transition: Renewable Natural Gas Has a Role to Play
For Canada to meet its recently announced "Net Zero by 2050" climate commitment, reducing the carbon intensity of natural gas production, distribution and consumption is a priority - all the more so given Canada's bold ambition to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 (announced on April 22, 2021, at the Leaders Summit on Climate).
Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), also known as biomethane, is often seen as the key to decarbonizing the natural gas system. And for good reason: RNG is a drop-in replacement for conventional natural gas, but with much lower GHG emissions. Some RNG projects can do even more, delivering RNG through existing infrastructure that is not just incrementally better for the climate than conventional natural gas when it is burned but is actually "carbon negative" when measured on a lifecycle basis.
We Need to Get Behind Renewable Natural Gas
By supporting the production of renewable natural gas, or RNG, Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to boost the state’s commitment to reducing food waste in landfills while increasing the supply of clean energy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.
RNG is a carbon-free fuel alternative derived by extracting methane from decomposing food scraps and animal manure in a process that sustainably repurposes waste products into a renewable power source. RNG is transported and distributed through existing infrastructure, so there is no need to build new pipelines.
Massachusetts is a national leader in the fight against food waste. Since 2014, the Commonwealth has banned commercial organic waste disposal in landfills, which has inspired companies to come up with innovative recycling solutions such as sending scraps and expired products to RNG-producing facilities. But there is more to be done to confront the epic challenges of climate change and waste reduction.
Getting the Most out of Methane Reduction
Congress and the Biden administration are starting to address methane emissions, and that’s a giant step forward for U.S. climate policy. But to keep spending on methane reduction accountable, and maximize its impact, we’ll need to look at a range of emissions sources, and focus on the most cost-effective methods with the greatest potential for overall methane abatement.
Methane is classified as a “short-lived climate pollutant,” but it’s also the second most prevalent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, it’s 86 times more powerful a warming agent than carbon dioxide over 20 years, and it's spiking. New National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data shows methane emissions have risen rapidly since 2000, and surged in 2020 despite the pandemic. We’re unlikely to meet our ambitious climate goals without reversing that rise.
Southern Company Gas Assumes Control of Meadow Branch Renewable Natural Gas Facility, Launches New Subsidiary to Increase Access to Sustainable Fuel
Southern Company Gas announced that it has taken ownership of the Meadow Branch Landfill Methane Recovery Facility, the renewable natural gas facility located at the Meadow Branch Landfill in Athens, Tenn., from sister company PowerSecure. The facility is now operated by Southern Company Gas Renewables, a new subsidiary dedicated to growing Southern Company Gas’ ability to provide customers with sustainable fuels. The company is pursuing RNG as part of Southern Company’s goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions enterprise-wide by 2050 and its strategy to increase access to clean, safe, reliable and affordable fuel for customers.
Clean Energy Inks New Deals to Meet Growing Demand for Low Carbon, Sustainable Renewable Natural Gas
Clean Energy Fuels Corp announced new renewable natural gas (RNG) contracts as fleets across North America increasingly continue to adopt the clean, low-carbon fuel to power heavy- and medium-duty trucks.
Clean Energy continues to expand its supply of RNG as the demand increases for the vehicle fuel which is derived from capturing the biogenic methane produced by the decomposition of organic waste from dairies, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. RNG reduces climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70 percent, and even up to 300 percent depending on the source of the RNG, making it a negative carbon fuel.
“Fleets are learning that RNG, together with natural gas engine technology, is a proven solution that can significantly decrease the impact of harmful emissions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Chad Lindholm, vice president, Clean Energy Fuels. “Clean Energy’s corporate vision is directly tied to working with our customers to improve air quality and positively influence public health. We will continue to grow the role of RNG in our fuel offerings to provide a clean and cost-effective alternative to diesel fuel.”
Brightmark Breaks Ground on Caballero Renewable Natural Gas Project in Arizona
Brightmark, the global waste solutions provider, today broke ground on the Caballero Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) project, which includes the construction of new anaerobic digesters at Caballero Dairy Farms, an 8,800 animal farm in Eloy, AZ.
Upon completion of the project, the digesters are anticipated to generate 214 MMBtu of renewable natural gas daily. The gas will be delivered into the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline owned by Kinder Morgan. The project will be owned and operated by Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC, a Brightmark platform in partnership with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Brightmark currently owns and operates 29 RNG projects in eight states.
Renewable Natural Gas Emerging as Serious Decarbonized Gas Contender
Last December, two giant Virginia-headquartered firms—energy company Dominion Energy and food manufacturer Smithfield Foods—announced completion of a novel renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Milford, southwestern Utah. While the Milford facility is the first of four similar projects that Align Renewable Natural Gas—a joint venture formed in November 2018 between Dominion and Smithfield—is spearheading, it is just one of a string of new, notable developments that suggest RNG is quickly gaining ground as the energy transition unfolds.
BrewDog to use DMT’s Biogas Upgrading Technology
BrewDog has teamed up with DMT Environmental Technology to reduce emissions at its site in Ellon, Scotland.
At many breweries, the rinse water is used in the brewing process is purified and reused. The wastewater treatment plant at the BrewDog HQ bio-plant will reduce the water usage of the brewery by 50%.
Renewable Natural Gas Will Help Foster a Sustainable Future
As New York’s Climate Action Council crafts policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Seneca Meadows Landfill Renewable Natural Gas Facility should serve as a prime example of how waste-to-energy projects can help achieve the state’s vision for a zero-carbon future.
Long before climate action and sustainability became a corporate trend, Seneca Meadows Landfill exemplified environmental leadership when we committed to the reuse of landfill gas in 1995. Environmental efforts from Seneca Meadows & Aria Energy are pioneering the path to long-term domestic and renewable energy viability.
Ingevity Invests in Biomethane, will Use it in its ANG Vehicle Platform
Ingevity Corporation announced a strategic partnership with and investment in GreenGasUSA Holdings, an integrated renewable natural gas solutions provider helping customers reduce their environmental impact. South Carolina-based GreenGas contracts with agricultural farms, landfills and industrial and municipal wastewater treatment facilities to collect and treat biogas from the organic waste of their operations that it then sells as pipeline-quality, low-carbon biomethane. GreenGas also provides compression, transportation and delivery of natural gas directly to customers through its wholly owned pipeline injection point or as part of its virtual pipeline services. With this investment, Ingevity now holds a less than 50% ownership in GreenGas.
Initially, Ingevity’s funding will enable GreenGas to further develop biogas capture and cleanup systems at facilities where harmful methane-producing organic waste can be converted to renewable natural gas instead of being flared off or escaping into the atmosphere.
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