RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Increase in Atmospheric Methane Set Another Record During 2021
For the second year in a row, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists observed a record annual increase in atmospheric levels of methane, a powerful, heat-trapping greenhouse gas that’s the second biggest contributor to human-caused global warming after carbon dioxide.
NOAA’s preliminary analysis showed the annual increase in atmospheric methane during 2021 was 17 parts per billion (ppb), the largest annual increase recorded since systematic measurements began in 1983. The increase during 2020 was 15.3 ppb. Atmospheric methane levels averaged 1,895.7 ppb during 2021, or around 162% greater than pre-industrial levels. From NOAA’s observations, scientists estimate global methane emissions in 2021 are 15% higher than the 1984-2006 period.
No BS – Dairy Digesters Work
Large trucks and luxury cars are being powered by dairy cows – or to be more precise, the biogas from their manure.
Yes, California farms are not only producing milk products for the world, they’re reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20% on the farm and replacing fossil fuels destined for big-rig gas tanks. If the state is going to achieve its ambitious climate goals, more dairies are going to have to generate renewable natural gas with anaerobic dairy digesters.
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Achieve Carbon Neutrality
The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, which manages wastewater and solid waste for over half the residents in Los Angeles County, announced that its operations result in a net reduction of greenhouse gases into the environment. A third party reviewed and verified the Districts' 2021 emissions inventory.
The Sanitation Districts recently published a summary of the agency's seven biggest initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the biogas created at the agency's landfills and wastewater treatment plants is converted into enough electricity to meet the needs of 23,000 homes. Other initiatives include converting food waste into vehicle fuel, using alternatives to fossil fuel in vehicles, biosolids management and green waste management. Collectively, these initiatives avoided 362,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, which is equivalent to taking 78,000 cars off the road.
Canada: $50M Ontario Project to Convert Decomposing Trash into Green Energy
A waste management company is partnering with the region’s natural gas supplier on a $50 million project to mine landfill gas from decomposing trash that will generate green energy and help the environment.
Waste Connections of Canada announced plans to construct a new renewable natural gas (RNG) facility on the Ridge Landfill site, near Blenheim, that will include an upgrading and compression system to convert landfill gas into a high-quality renewable natural gas. Enbridge Gas is partnering on the project to run a new four-inch pipeline nearly six kilometres from its Chatham East Line at its Blenheim North Station to a new injection station at the landfill that will require at least a $12 million investment.
Aemetis Successfully Completes Testing of $12 Million Dairy Biogas-to-RNG Upgrading Facility and Produces Renewable Natural Gas
Aemetis, Inc. announced that its Aemetis Biogas subsidiary successfully completed testing of the $12 million dairy biogas-to-RNG upgrading and compression facility for the Aemetis Biogas Dairy Digester Project in California. The biogas upgrading unit is co-located at the Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes ethanol plant near Modesto, California and adjacent to the utility natural gas pipeline.
The full system mechanical commissioning process for the biogas-to-RNG facility has been completed. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is now conducting final tests of the utility gas pipeline interconnection unit that is already constructed, which will enable the injection of utility-grade renewable natural gas into the PG&E gas pipeline for delivery to customers.
Dubuque, Iowa, Landfill Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 65 Percent
The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 65% in the last five years.
In March 2020, an agreement was reached with Dubuque Gas Producers to develop a Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) project on site to capture the gas, treat the gas to meet all pipeline standards and then deliver it to a Black Hills Energy pipeline. The Agency’s reported CO2e emissions were 39,424 tons in 2016. With the RNG plant coming online in 2021, the Agency’s reported CO2e emissions were reduced to 13,708.8 tons, a reduction of 25,715.2 tons or 65% from the 2016 base year.
Shell Sustainability Report: Transition to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
Shell, the oil and gas company headquartered in London, has published its 2021 Sustainability Report. Shell’s climate target is to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society’s progress in achieving the goal of the UN Paris Agreement on climate change.
The company set targets to reduce the carbon intensity (Net Carbon Footprint) of the energy products it sells. This includes short-term targets of 3-4% by 2022, 6-8% by 2023 and 9-12% by 2024 (compared with 2016). It also includes medium- and long-term targets of 20% by 2030, 45% by 2035, and 100% by 2050 (compared with 2016).
Opinion: The Rest of the Story on Fossil Fuels in Oregon
A recent op-ed titled "Fossil fuels are not going anywhere" was full of thoughtful insights and hard truths on Oregon's need to continue the use of natural gas and other fuels, but it wasn't the full story.
In Oregon, our local utilities and workers are at the forefront of decarbonizing our energy systems. It was rightly noted that "electrification" is not the same as decarbonization because during peak demands for energy, natural gas is still the cleanest and most reliable source available. There is a better way to decarbonize than bluntly mandating electrification. Instead, states should invest more in clean fuels such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen.
National Grid Sees US Gas Utilities as Core to Clean Energy Networks Strategy
Natural gas distribution will remain central to National Grid PLC's U.S. operations even as policy headwinds persist in the U.S. Northeast and the multinational utility company shifts toward electric transmission in its U.K. business.
The U.S. gas grid complements the company's increased focus on developing networks to support offshore wind power and green hydrogen infrastructure, according to Ben Wilson, chief strategy and external affairs officer. Wilson reaffirmed the company's commitment to distributing gas in Massachusetts and New York at the S&P Global Market Intelligence Annual Power and Gas M&A Symposium in New York City on March 30.
Biogas Made from Farm Waste Could Replace Russian Fossil Fuels in Germany
As Germany attempts to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, the strong fumes from manure and other organic waste on farms could act as an alternative energy source.
An hour's drive west of Berlin, a strong smell emanates from three large cylinders in the middle of a muddy field on Kaim's property, which is shared with 100 dairy cows. Every day, tonnes of organic waste, mainly manure, corn and grass, is poured into these receptacles.
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