RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Natural Gas Trucks Enjoying 'Great Interest' Thanks Mostly to Renewable Natural Gas Surge
At a time when pressure is building for fleets to reduce emissions and lessen their carbon footprint, natural gas trucks are getting more attention thanks largely to renewable natural gas (RNG).
RNG comes from methane that’s been processed for vehicle use, and according to the California Air Resources Board, it has the lowest carbon intensity score among all transportation fuels, including electric.
That and the cheaper price tag over electric is attracting more fleets eager for a greener profile as the Biden administration aims hard at emissions and watchdog groups stand at the ready with carbon assessments that can shake investor confidence and chip away at valuation, particularly at larger fleets.
“I think consumers are requiring it and I think investors are requiring it,” Dan Gage, president of Natural Gas Vehicles of America, said of carbon scoring. “People are more aware of their environmental footprint and companies have to be more aware of it because their brand depends on being seen as part of the solution and not part of the problem. So we're seeing a lot of fleets that are making proactive investments in that.”
Montauk Renewables, Inc. Expands Dairy Digester RNG Project
Montauk Renewables, Inc. announced the planned expansion of its dairy digester renewable natural gas (“RNG”) cluster project in Jerome, Idaho.
The planned expansion is expected to be triggered by a recent amendment to the project’s feedstock arrangement, providing for approximately 65,000 gallons per day in minimum manure feedstock supply. The increases in feedstock supply are to be staged over a projected 12-36 month period, as are the development fees to be paid by Montauk in connection with the expansion.
Chevron Brands Its First CNG Retail Site
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. announced the Allied Clean Fuels Plaza retail station in Napa, California, has been rebranded as its first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) site. Chevron expects to rebrand or open more than 30 CNG sites by 2025.
The announcement underscores Chevron’s commitment to providing affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy by increasing renewables and offsets in support of our business. It also builds on Chevron’s previously announced investments, such as ventures with California Bioenergy and Brightmark and our Adopt-a-Port initiative with Clean Energy Fuels, to market renewable natural gas for use in vehicles operating on CNG.
Ontario Energy Association Releases Net Zero 2050 Report on Options to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050
On June 9th, the Ontario Energy Association (OEA), released a report, Net Zero 2050, reviewing the various elements of Ontario's energy system and some of the options available to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2050. The report finds that transitioning Ontario's energy system to net zero will encompass one of the largest infrastructure projects in Ontario's history.
Access the Net Zero 2050 report here.
Sempra Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory Collaborate to Advance Future Net-Zero Energy Systems
Sempra Energy announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, providing a framework for a joint effort to advance future net-zero energy systems. The MOU, which builds off nearly 10 years of ongoing collaboration, will continue current work researching and developing innovative solutions to help shape a lower-carbon future through technology and applications capable of withstanding increasing energy demand and broad adoption while advancing future innovation.
Williams Pairing With Microsoft to Advance Net-Zero Emissions Goals; Efforts to Include Renewable Natural Gas
Williams, which owns one of the largest natural gas pipeline systems in the United States, said it joined forces with technology stalwart Microsoft Corp. to explore new ways to transform its energy infrastructure network as it pursues a net-zero emissions ambition.
“Williams is committed to helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals while meeting energy demand with the reliability of clean natural gas and renewable energy sources,” CEO Alan Armstrong said in announcing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Microsoft on Thursday.
“This alignment between two forward-looking companies” aims to demonstrate “the environmental and economic benefits that are possible when we work together to achieve reductions in carbon emissions,” Armstrong added.
Bayotech and IBMS Group to Launch the UK’s First Renewable Hydrogen Project Using Food Waste
BayoTech and IBMS Group announced May 24th, an agreement to launch the UK’s first renewable hydrogen project using biomethane from food waste as a feedstock. The project will produce 1,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen per day to fuel zero-emission vehicles in the London and Surrey regions of the UK.
This transatlantic partnership brings together two businesses committed to addressing the need for green fuel to decarbonise transport and energy intensive businesses. At IBMS’ multi-purpose eco-facility, biomethane will be produced from food waste and then converted to renewable hydrogen using BayoTech’s leading modular on-site hydrogen generation technology. The system is due to be online in the first half of 2022.
“BayoTech is thrilled to be working with IBMS Group on such a ground-breaking project. Using food waste to create zero carbon fuel is an excellent example of regional sustainability,” said Steve Jones, BayoTech’s Vice President, Europe.
Circle K to Expand California RNG Offering
Major US convenience store brand Circle K has partnered with Musket and Trillium to expand sustainable trucking options in California, using RNG.
A 2020 supply partnership between Circle K and Musket, which specialises in commodity supply, trading and logistics, created a joint purchasing agreement and allowed Circle K to rapidly grow its fleet, maximising fuel sourcing flexibility.
Expanding on that relationship, Trillium, a renewable fuels provider, and Circle K announced on 2 June that they have entered into an agreement in which Trillium will provide RNG to Circle K’s in-house trucking fleet in California.
The partnership will allow for improved daily efficiency and for Circle K to lower its fleet’s emissions through the consumption of ultra-low carbon RNG sourced from dairy facilities.
California’s Renewable Natural Gas Vehicles Turn Carbon Negative in 2020
Vehicles in California running on renewable natural gas removed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they emitted for the first time last year as the carbon intensity of the fuel continues to drop, according to new data from California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) analyzed by an industry trade group.
California adopted measures to decrease the carbon intensity of its transportation sector more than a decade ago, part of a wider scheme to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
The use of renewable natural gas (RNG) in fleets of trucks, buses and other vehicles grew 25% from 2019 to 2020 and is up more than 170% in the past five years, according to the data.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan Tours Biogas Processing Facility at Des Moine Wastewater Reclamation Authority
Recently, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Michael Regan, toured the biogas processing facility of the Des Moine Metro Wastewater Reclamation Authority. Here, raw biogas is turned into RNG - generating renewable fuel and revenue while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Regan remarked in response to the water infrastructure investment, “…we get a really great product that not only processes the waste water, but looks at mitigating climate as well.”
Click below to view highlights from Regan’s visit.
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