Renewable Natural Gas, often referred to as biomethane, is a purified form of biogas produced from organic matter decomposition. Unlike conventional natural gas extracted from underground deposits, RNG is derived from renewable sources such as:

• Municipal solid waste landfills
• Wastewater treatment facilities
• Agriculture (livestock manure and crop residues)
• Food waste from various sources

The resulting gas primarily consists of methane and carbon dioxide, closely mimicking the composition of fossil natural gas. This similarity allows RNG to seamlessly integrate into existing natural gas infrastructure, making it a versatile and accessible alternative fuel.

The journey from organic waste to usable RNG involves several key steps:

1. Collection: Organic matter is gathered from various sources like landfills, farms, and wastewater treatment plants.
2. Anaerobic Digestion: In an oxygen-free environment, bacteria break down the organic matter, producing raw biogas.
3. Purification: The raw biogas undergoes a cleaning process to remove impurities and increase its methane content to 95% or higher.
4. Compression: The purified gas is then compressed (CNG).

An alternative method, thermal gasification, converts biomass directly into a combustible gas in a reactor called a gasifier.

The transportation sector, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, stands to benefit greatly from RNG adoption. Here’s how RNG is making an impact:

• Heavy-Duty Vehicles: RNG can power trucks, buses, and other large vehicles, offering a lower-emission alternative to diesel that is available today. Commercial operators like UPS, Walmart and Amazon utilize RNG to help decarbonize their fleet today.
• Waste Management Fleets: Many waste collection companies are transitioning their fleets to RNG, creating a closed-loop system where they produce the fuel they use.
• Public Transportation: Cities across the United States have incorporated RNG-powered buses into their public transit systems.

RNG is a true drop-in fuel for vehicles running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). RNG can seamlessly replace CNG, leveraging the same infrastructure. RNG offers a sustainable, renewable alternative that supports cleaner transportation today.

RNG offers a trifecta of environmental benefits:

1. Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By capturing methane that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, RNG projects can reduce lifecycle carbon intensity by up to 400% compared to conventional diesel.
2. Waste Management: RNG production provides an effective solution for managing organic waste, reducing the burden on landfills and the associated environmental issues.
3. Air Quality Improvement: Vehicles running on RNG produce fewer particulate emissions than their diesel counterparts, contributing to cleaner air in urban areas.

Despite its promising potential, RNG faces several challenges:

• Production Costs: Currently, RNG production is more expensive than extracting fossil natural gas.
• Infrastructure Limitations: While growing, the infrastructure for RNG distribution and fueling stations is still limited.
• Regulatory Landscape: Policies supporting RNG vary by region, creating an uneven playing field for adoption.