If you work in an industry that deals with large amounts of organic waste, you are probably familiar with the emissions the decomposition process creates. As the waste from cattle, poultry, household trash, and even food breaks down, it produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide.
These noxious gasses can do more than create an issue with your neighbors. If untreated, they are a safety and environmental hazard.
Methane is especially problematic. It is a highly flammable and volatile gas with a global warming potential much higher than CO₂.
While the exact regulations are industry-specific, the Clean Air Act requires many operators to take steps to deal with these harmful emissions.
Flaring is the most traditional mitigation strategy because utility flares are both highly efficient and cost-effective.
Converting Gas to Energy
However, it is also possible to clean and condition the gas to create a useful energy source — renewable natural gas (RNG). To upgrade biogas to RNG, the methane content is increased by removing water vapor, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and other impurities.
How to Use Renewable Natural Gas
Renewable natural gas is fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas and has a wide variety of uses. It can be used to generate electricity or heat and can be used as a transportation fuel. RNG can even be fed into existing natural gas pipelines, where it is mixed with conventional natural gas and distributed to homes, businesses, or industrial users.
What was once a challenging byproduct can become a significant revenue stream for operators across a wide range of industries.
Finding the Right Solution for Waste Gas
At Parnel Biogas, we can help you optimize your facility, whether you want to use a flare for waste gas destruction or pursue gas-to-energy (GTE) opportunities.
Our capabilities include:
- Blower skids
- Landfill gas processing/compression skids
- Leachate control systems
- Chiller skids
- Dehydration skids
- Field services
The composition of your biogas and how you plan to use it will determine the operating requirements for the system you build. If there’s one thing we know about the GTE process, it’s that no two applications are exactly alike.
Parnel’s experienced team of engineers can design and build the systems needed to move and/or destroy the gas.
We can also help you identify any additional partners you may need for the project. Our team can connect you with quality contractors who specialize in the processes required for biogas to energy conversion.
Our components (listed under capabilities above) are built at the Parnel Biogas facility in Tulsa, Okla. The systems are unitized on a mobile platform called a skid and installed at your location.
Not only does this minimize the fieldwork required for the project, but it also saves you time and money.
We also offer system rentals if you need a biogas mitigation solution while your gas processing system is built.
Financial Incentives for Gas to Energy Projects
As you are evaluating what options are right for your application, it is also important to consider what financial mechanisms and funding sources may be available to you.
Biogas Market Incentives
There are tax credits, renewable energy credits, carbon offset credits, or other incentives through both federal and state programs. At the federal level, the Renewable Fuel Standard provides market-based monetary value for RNG. California and Oregon are two examples of states that have created incentive programs such as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that are focused on the reduction of fossil fuel-based fuel.
Strategic Partnerships
Many companies and utilities are willing to pay a premium for renewable energy or carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint. Consequently, biogas producers can form mutually beneficial relationships with organizations that are interested in purchasing the gas to use and for its carbon offset potential.
Third-party Build, Own & Operate Models
In some partnerships, a third party is willing to assume the financial, operational and maintenance responsibilities of a GTE operation. Using agriculture as an example, these types of partnerships can help the farmer remain in compliance with emissions requirements while also eliminating the need for a capital investment to start the project. In some cases, the third party may use one centralized location for biogas production but will seek waste from several farms in the area.
Federal, State, or Local Funding
Funding may also be available through federal, state, or local means. These sources may pay for things like feasibility studies or supplement the up-front costs of a GTE project. In these instances, the federal, state or local government is hoping to implement sustainable practices by reducing the financial barriers for businesses to take on such projects.
Converting Waste to Natural Gas for Operations
Finally, there are many instances where a farmer, landfill operator or other business will take on a GTE project solely for their own benefit. These businesses take advantage of the cost-saving potential of powering their own generators, boilers or transportation equipment.
Savvy operators often combine multiple opportunities such as the ones outlined above to get the most return on their investment.
Learning More About Renewable Natural Gas
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when it comes to renewable natural gas. When you choose Parnel Biogas, you gain an experienced partner who can help you design and build a gas-to-energy system that works for you.
Our team is ready to help you optimize your operations and meet your GTE goals.
Learn more in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Gas Energy Project Development Handbook or in the Project Planning and Financing page.
