The dairy biomethane projects will help ship dairy biogas to a centralised processing facility to convert into RNG
CalBioGas has produced first renewable natural gas from dairy farms in Kern County. (Credit: Matthias Böckel from Pixabay)
CalBioGas, a joint venture of California Bioenergy (CalBio) and Chevron U.S.A. and local dairy farmers, has produced the first renewable natural gas (RNG) from dairy farms in Kern County, California.
Methane, a greenhouse gas, will be released as a result of the manure storage on dairy farms.
CalBio uses technology and operational experience to support the construction of digesters and methane capture projects to transform methane into RNG.
CalBio, dairy farmers and Chevron have provided financial assistance for digester projects across three geographic clusters in Kern, Tulare and Kings counties.
Upon operational, the projects will minimise dairies’ methane emissions and greenhouse emissions from livestock.
RNG to serve as an alternative fuel for heavy-duty trucks and buses
The dairy biomethane projects will help ship dairy biogas to a centralised processing facility, where it will be transformed to RNG and infused into local utility SoCalGas’ pipeline. Later, the RNG will be supplied as an alternative fuel for heavy-duty trucks and buses.
CalBio CEO Ross Buckenham said: “The project is the result of efforts of a remarkable range of stakeholders, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utility Commission.
“CalBio also is honoured to be supported by a group of California’s dairy farmers, Farm Credit West and Chevron, California’s largest energy company.”
Recently, Chevron has also collaborated with Clean Energy Fuels on the Adopt-a-Port initiative to increase renewables and invest in lower-carbon technologies.
Chevron Americas Products president Andy Walz said: “Chevron is increasing RNG in support of our business and is making targeted investments and establishing partnerships, as we evaluate many emerging sources of energy and the role they will play in our portfolio.”
Earlier this year, Fortistar and Paloma Dairy have commenced construction of a dairy digester renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Arizona, US.