What Landfill Operators Should Know about RNG

For decades, landfill gas systems were designed to collect methane and flare it to reduce emissions.

Flaring will always play an important role in protecting the environment. However, landfill operators are increasingly looking beyond emissions control and toward energy recovery, converting landfill gas into renewable natural gas (RNG).

Landfill operators are driven by growing demand for renewable fuels, stronger sustainability commitments, and favorable market incentives that make landfill gas an attractive solution for long-term energy production. With the right infrastructure in place, a system built for compliance can evolve into one that generates consistent revenue.

However, getting from landfill gas to RNG is where the real challenge — and opportunity — lies.

From Flare to Fuel

As more landfills transition from flare-only systems to RNG projects, it’s important to understand the differences in system design between the two processes.

When methane destruction is the goal, operators apply a vacuum across a network of wells. That vacuum does more than pull methane — it also pulls in air and contaminants from the waste mass.

Consequently, this creates an inherently inconsistent gas stream:

• Methane levels fluctuate
• Carbon dioxide is high
• Oxygen and nitrogen are introduced through the collection process
• Contaminants like VOCs, H₂S, and moisture are present

To convert raw landfill gas to RNG, the gas must be treated and conditioned to remove moisture, hydrogen sulfide, siloxanes, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other contaminants until it meets pipeline-quality standards.

The vacuum that helps operators collect gas for methane destruction is actually detrimental to the RNG process. As the vacuum increases, more air (oxygen and nitrogen) is pulled into the system. That dilutes methane concentration and makes separation more difficult.

Modernizing Infrastructure to Support RNG

In an RNG system, the gas is captured and runs through a series of treatment and upgrading steps. Along the way, things like moisture, contaminants, and unwanted gases are removed.

What’s left is a much cleaner gas — mostly methane — that meets the same standards as natural gas.

From there, the gas is compressed and pushed through the system under positive pressure. It can be sent into a pipeline, used as vehicle fuel, or supplied to industrial users.

As a result, infrastructure often needs to evolve when moving from emissions control to RNG.

In some cases, that means revisiting the wellfield — redrilling deeper wells, adding new wells in active areas, or converting passive systems into active extraction. In others, it’s about improving how gas moves across the site, with horizontal collectors targeting high-organic zones in older cells.

Moisture management is another critical piece. Condensate removal, proper drainage, and heat tracing in colder climates all play a role in protecting system performance and maintaining consistent gas flow.

Just as important is visibility. Advanced monitoring and control systems allow operators to balance gas collection more precisely and respond in real time as conditions change.

Turning Potential Into Performance

Landfill gas holds real energy value, but unlocking it takes more than collection.

It requires the right approach to gas treatment, upgrading technology and system design. It also requires an understanding of how each piece of the system works together, from the wellfield to the flare.

At Parnel Biogas, we design flare systems that support both sides of that equation — from landfill operations to RNG facilities — helping operators stay compliant, protect their systems, and make the most of their gas.

Every Parnel flare reflects decades of field experience and a commitment to quality, safety, and customer support. From your first call to ongoing operations, we’re with you every step of the way.

Ready to talk about one of our proven biogas solutions? Contact us today.

Parnel Biogas Inc. specializes in the design and manufacture of landfill gas flare and landfill gas-to-energy systems. Its flare systems are recognized as the “Best Demonstrated Technology for Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)” meeting the EPA 40 CFR 60.18. Parnel Biogas is committed to providing a prompt response and exceeding client expectations. Contact Parnel Biogas Inc. here.