The RNG produced from the dairy farms will be supplied across the country through Duke Energy’s natural gas pipeline of network
Duke Energy and SustainRNG to produce RNG from dairy farms. (Credit: Duke Energy Corporation.)
US-based Duke Energy has partnered with SustainRNG to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) from dairy farms in the US.
SustainRNG is an entrepreneurial developer of RNG in the agricultural sector. The firm has secured advanced methane generation licence from Trane Technologies.
Duke Energy has also acquired a minority stake in the company and will retain the option to invest in future operating projects.
SustainRNG will collaborate with dairy farmers and will engineer, finance, build and operate the RNG sites. It will capture and process methane from the farms into RNG.
Initially, SustainRNG plans to deploy digesters on dairy farms where the headcount is between 3,000 and 6,000 and where water wash-down manure management is currently deployed.
SustainRNG to use methane generation technology licenced from Trane Technologies
The RNG projects will also support farmers by being additional sources of revenue, while simultaneously reducing their burden of waste management.
Through this method, Duke Energy and SustainRNG plan to supply the locally generated renewable source of energy to users across the country by injecting the RNG into its existing pipeline network of natural gas.
Duke Energy ventures and business development senior vice president Phillip Grigsby said: “Duke Energy is committed to supporting sustainable energy solutions, and our partnership with SustainRNG will bring more renewable natural gas into the market, which benefits both the environment and customers.
“In addition, these projects will create jobs, both in the construction and ongoing operation of the RNG facilities.”
Renewable natural gas is comprised of methane which has been captured from the breakdown of organic waste and is processed to remove contaminants to meet the standards of natural gas pipeline quality standards.
SustainRNG CEO Michael Shore said: “We are excited to be partnering with dairy farmers, who will be co-owners of the projects and have a stake in their success.
“Equally important, our projects will help farmers to be more sustainable locally and leverage the power of the agriculture sector to mitigate climate change.”