New Illinois facility demonstrates the viability of landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion while reducing carbon emissions.
A significant advancement in landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion technology has emerged with the opening of a new renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at the Roxana Landfill in Edwardsville, Illinois. The facility, developed through a joint venture between Ameresco Inc. and Republic Services, represents one of North America’s largest landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion projects, with an annual production capacity of 1.4 trillion British thermal units of renewable natural gas.
Multiple revenue streams in the expanding landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion market support the facility’s economic viability. Industry analysts estimate the capital investment for such facilities typically ranges from $25-40 million, with operational costs averaging $3-5 per million BTU. The project benefits from renewable fuel credits and environmental attribute markets, enhancing its financial sustainability while contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
At the heart of the operation is a sophisticated landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion system that handles 6,000 standard cubic feet per minute of raw landfill gas. The technical process involves multiple stages: gas collection, compression, cleaning, and upgrading. Advanced membrane separation technology removes carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other impurities to produce pipeline-quality renewable natural gas that meets strict transmission standards for Energy Transfer’s natural gas pipeline network.
The facility’s significance in landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion development is highlighted by a global context. Similar installations in Europe, particularly in Germany and Sweden, have demonstrated successful long-term operation, with some facilities achieving payback periods of as low as 5-7 years. The Roxana facility incorporates best practices from these international operations while implementing newer technology for improved efficiency.
Environmental impact calculations indicate the facility will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 82,000 metric tons annually – equivalent to removing 5,000 passenger vehicles from the road or offsetting the energy consumption of 2,500 homes. This substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion aligns with Illinois’ ambitious renewable energy goals of 40% renewable energy by 2030 and complete clean energy adoption by 2050.
The project is significant in waste-to-energy solutions, demonstrating how landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion can transform a waste product into a valuable energy resource. Rather than flaring landfill gas – a common practice that wastes potential energy – the facility captures and processes this naturally occurring byproduct into usable fuel for transportation and other applications.
See also: How to Power Your Farm with Biogas and Sustainable Energy.
The successful implementation of the Roxana facility demonstrates the maturity of sustainable waste management innovations and their potential role in expanding renewable energy infrastructure. As states and municipalities pursue increasingly ambitious clean energy targets, similar landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion projects could become essential for regional renewable energy strategies.
The project’s success could spur further development of this technology across North America, particularly in regions with significant landfill operations and established natural gas infrastructure. The ability to connect directly to existing pipeline networks suggests the potential for broader adoption of landfill gas to renewable natural gas conversion across other waste management facilities.
