RNG NEWS
Southwest Inks 20-Year Jet Fuel Deal in Quest To Go Green
Southwest Airlines said it has forged a two-decade agreement to buy as much as 680 million gallons of renewable jet fuel, part of the US carrier’s goal of slashing climate-polluting emissions.
The sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, will be sold by Arizona-based USA BioEnergy LLC starting as early as 2028, Southwest said in a statement. USA BioEnergy is working to build a $2 billion-plus plant in Texas to make green jet fuel from wood waste, the company’s chief executive, Nick Andrews, said in an interview.
Enbridge Expands RNG Footprint With $1.2 Billion Morrow Renewables Deal
Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge has signed a deal to purchase seven existing renewable natural gas facilities in Texas and Arkansas for $1.2 billion.
The acquisition of the facilities from Texas-based Morrow Renewables establishes Enbridge as one of the largest transporters of renewable natural gas by volume in North America, the Calgary-based company said November 3.
WIN Waste, Vision RNG Partner on LFG-RNG Projects
Vision RNG, a Pittsburgh-based developer of projects designed to convert landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG), and Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based WIN Waste Innovations, an integrated waste services provider, are partnering to build two LFG-to-RNG projects at WIN Waste’s Seneca County landfill in Seneca County, Ohio, and its Tunnel Hill Reclamation landfill in Perry County, Ohio.
Vision RNG and WIN Waste anticipate the projects will produce more than 2.7 million MMBtu of RNG annually, with plans to more than double that amount within 11 years. Once commissioned, the projects are expected to result in the avoidance of more than 120,000 tons of fossil-based carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions yearly.
COP28 Chief, Groups, Urge Tripling Renewable Capacity by 2030
The presidency of next month's COP28 climate summit and two renewable energy organizations this week urged governments to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 as part of efforts to stop global warming exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Countries hope to strike a deal on the increase in capacity at the latest round of global climate negotiations set to get under way in Dubai in late November, which will focus on the gaps in the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement that established the 1.5°C ceiling.
Clean Energy’s First RNG Facility Begins To Sell Environmental Credits
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE ) and TotalEnergies SE (NYSE: TTE) announced that renewable natural gas (RNG) from Del Rio Dairy in Friona, TX, began flowing in June to the transportation market and recently began generating D3 renewable identification numbers (RINs) credits under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as credits through Oregon’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) program. The RNG produced at Del Rio Dairy and injected into the country’s natural gas pipeline system represents a major milestone in Clean Energy’s strategy to become the leader in both producing and selling a fuel that is so clean, the California Air Resources Board gives it an average carbon-intensity rating of -331.
“The demand for RNG is only increasing,” said Clay Corbus, senior vice president of renewables at Clean Energy. “There is no easier or immediate way for fleets to achieve their goals to reduce carbon emissions than transitioning their trucks, buses, or other large vehicles to RNG. Turning the challenge of managing manure at large dairies like Del Rio Dairy into something so positive like an ultra-low carbon fuel is a huge win for all parties.”
Cummins Predicts Huge Growth in Natural Gas Engines
Cummins predicts its new 15-liter natural gas engine designed for heavy-duty and on-highway applications could lead to a fivefold growth in customers for the alternative powertrain. It overcomes complaints about low power and torque and can run on potentially net-zero carbon renewable natural gas (RNG).
“I’m not saying that this market will go 80% natural gas. But it’s no longer a niche,” Jose Samperio, Cummins’ executive director and general manager, North America On-Highway, told FreightWaves. “It becomes more mainstream for long-haul applications.”
Biomethane's Role in Europe's Energy Transition is "Even More Critical" Now
Kadri Simson, the European Commissioner for Energy, delivered a speech for European Biomethane Week on 25 October, in which she said that biomethane's role in Europe's energy transition is "even more critical" now than one year ago.
SPSA, Terreva Celebrate New Renewable Gas Facility
A new partnership between Southeastern Public Service Authority and Terravera Renewables was celebrated with the completion of its new renewable gas facility on Wednesday, October 18. The new facility will collect raw landfill methane gas by converting it into RNG, which will be distributed to customers by pipeline as a replacement for natural gas.
PG&E Announces Production Pilot and RNG Procurement
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has reached a milestone in its commitment to decarbonize its natural gas system and expand on technologies that support the production of new, carbon-free and carbon-neutral energy resources.
The company has begun the process of purchasing California-produced renewable natural gas (RNG) for residential and small commercial customers. The company is also announcing a new biomass-to-RNG project.
Ameresco Landfill Gas to Renewable Natural Gas Plant Operations Begin at Republic Services’ Benson Valley Landfill
Ameresco has announced that it achieved commercial operation at its landfill gas to renewable natural gas plant at Republic Services’ Benson Valley Landfill in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Benson Valley facility has a gross nameplate in excess of 483,552 Dekatherms per year and is capable of processing 2,000 scfm of raw landfill gas.
Ameresco broke ground on the project in June 2022 and reached commercial operation in August 2023. As a result of this collaborative, long-term partnership, Benson Valley Landfill will reduce 27,440 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, a figure that is roughly equivalent to the carbon sequestered by planting 325,899 acres of forests or 31 million gallons of gasoline not being combusted.