RNG NEWS
Synthica Energy Receives Air Quality Permit for New Anaerobic Digestion Facility in San Antonio
Synthica Energy, a developer of anaerobic digestion facilities that convert organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG), has received an Air Quality Permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for its new facility in San Antonio, Texas. The new facility will divert up to 250,000 tons of industrial organic waste each year when completed. The permit paves the way for Synthica to break ground at the site in Q3 2024.
Synthica is currently working with manufacturers across Greater San Antonio on contracts to handle their organic waste feedstocks, including everything from food and beverage manufacturing byproducts and expired/damaged produce to spent yeast, expired beer and other depackaged beverage products.
America’s Truck and Bus Fleets Continue Transition to Near-Zero Emission Engines
As America’s commercial truck and bus fleets progress towards near-zero emissions, advanced internal combustion engines remain predominant. Gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and propane remain the primary fuel sources. According to the Engine Technology Forum (ETF), the use of advanced near-zero emissions diesel engines increased by 4% in 2023 compared to 2022.
Based on S&P Global Mobility TIPNet data, the ETF’s analysis reveals that internal combustion engines power 99.9% of the nation’s commercial vehicles. Diesel dominates with a 76% share, followed by gasoline at 22%, with the remainder comprising natural gas and propane. Meanwhile, zero-emission technologies like battery electric and fuel cell vehicles constitute a small portion of the fleet. Transit buses lead with 7.8% electric vehicles (EV), while electric-powered commercial trucks and school buses account for 20,000 and 2,000 units, respectively.
Converting Landfill Gas to RNG in Edmonton
The Clover Bar Landfill in Edmonton, Alberta recovers landfill gas to generate renewable energy. The site has been recovering and converting the gas into electricity since 2005 and is currently early in the process of developing a new system to convert the gas produced from decomposing landfill organics into renewable natural gas (RNG) for injection into Alberta’s natural gas distribution system.
The overarching goals of the project are to increase the environmental sustainability and economic viability of the facility through the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It will also help advance Edmonton towards its goal of being carbon neutral as a municipality by 2050. Initial project planning began in 2020 and work to scope, design and procure the project is underway.
FortisBC First Energy Utility in North America To Automatically Designate Renewable Natural Gas for Customers
With recent approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission, as of July 1, 2024, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) gas customers will have one per cent of their gas automatically designated as Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). FortisBC is the first energy utility in North America to automatically designate RNG for customers.
"It is clear that our province needs all available tools to address climate change and support an affordable energy transition towards lower emissions for residents, businesses and industry," said Doug Slater, vice-president of Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs at FortisBC. "The gas system is undergoing a transition as we work to increase the supply of renewable and low-carbon gases, like RNG, to lower emissions and this new RNG blend offering will help us do that."
Green Impact Partners Closes Investment Tax Credit Sale for GreenGas Colorado LLC for Gross Proceeds of $28.9 Million
Green Impact Partners is pleased to announce the Company has closed the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Investment Tax Credits for GreenGas Colorado for total sales proceeds of CAD$28.9 million (US$21.1 million). GIP has received CAD$17.4 million in net cash proceeds, following the replenishment of the debt service reserve account for the Colorado JV. With completion of this transaction, GIP's remaining net capital investment for its 50% interest in the Colorado JV is CAD$6.7 million.
"These proceeds enable us to advance our flagship project, the Future Energy Park, towards financial close, continue investing in our development portfolio, and provide working capital funding for the Colorado JV as we progress the certification process with the California Air Resource Board," said Jesse Douglas, Chief Executive Officer.
Chesapeake Utilities Launches RNG Production at Full Circle Dairy
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation has successfully commenced the first renewable natural gas (RNG) injections from its groundbreaking facility at Full Circle Dairy in Madison County, Florida. This initiative is managed by FPU Renewables and parent company Florida Public Utilities Company, both subsidiaries of Chesapeake Utilities.
The initiation of RNG injections marks the operational phase of the Company’s inaugural RNG development project. This project saw the construction and operationalization of a dairy manure-to-biogas RNG facility, which began injecting its first RNG earlier this month at the Radio Avenue site in Yulee, Florida. The facility’s first month saw approximately 4,700 dekatherms of RNG captured and transported for injection by Marlin Gas Services, another Chesapeake subsidiary.
Op-Ed: New York State’s Missed Climate Solution is a Clean Fuel Standard
New Yorkers are all too familiar with the costs of air and climate pollution. As one of the busiest transit hubs in the world, our state sees over 2,000 premature deaths annually due to air pollution from vehicles alone.
Aemetis Biogas Reaches Milestone of Operating Dairy Digesters Producing More Than 300,000 MMBtu Per Year of Renewable Natural Gas
Aemetis, a renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company focused on low and negative carbon intensity products, today announced that its Aemetis Biogas subsidiary completed a key milestone of constructing and operating dairy digesters with a capacity to produce more than 300,000 MMBtu of renewable natural gas (RNG) per year. Additionally, the planned construction of new digesters is expected to increase the annual RNG production rate to over 800,000 MMBtu by the third quarter of 2025, more than a 150% increase from the current production rate.
Our commercial revenue generation from selling RNG for transportation began in January 2023, and we have already grown to a production rate of more than 300,000 MMBtu per year, which generates revenues of about $13 million per year in todays markets prior to receiving LCFS Provisional pathway approvals, prior to expected increased revenue from expanded LCFS credit mandates in November of this year, and prior to transferable 45Z tax credits starting in January 2025, stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis, Inc. We have already closed $50 million of 20-year USDA guaranteed funding for the biogas project and achieved positive cash flow from biogas operations, and we are working to close an additional $75 million of USDA-guaranteed construction funding this year.
Clean Energy Opens Renewable Natural Gas Station Near Philadelphia
Clean Energy Fuels announced the opening of a new renewable natural gas (RNG) station in Carney’s Point, New Jersey for heavy-duty trucks and other fleet vehicles to access a fuel produced from organic waste and is rated the cleanest available.
The new station is strategically located in the important trucking corridor between Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE near Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike and is now part of Clean Energy’s fueling network of over 600 stations in North America.
Energy Global Spotlight with Viridi Energy
Jessica Casey, Editor of Energy Global, sits down with Chet Benham, President & COO of Viridi Energy, to look into Viridi’s business, including its focus on renewable natural gas and the role this can play in the energy transition.