After shutting down plant activity in order to take over active operations in 2019, NLC Energy has turned around its Denmark facility and built one of the world’s most complex – and successful – renewable natural gas plants.
Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is a term used to describe biogas that has been upgraded for use in place of fossil natural gas. Through a process similar to what happens to food in the human intestine, organic matter, such as animal manure or food waste, is broken down in the absence of oxygen. The process is called anaerobic digestion. Biogas is captured and purified to the standard of renewable natural gas. The process helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from landfills.
NLC Energy develops, owns and operates biogas projects. Assuming control of its Denmark plant, the firm began a full overhaul of plant operations and has made history by commissioning the most complex facility of its type in the world. Located in Northeastern Wisconsin, the plant integrates multiple processes and technologies to produce high quality RNG.
The facility boasts that:
- It processes both manure and food waste at the same plant, clearing numerous regulatory hurdles to assure the processes are kept separate and clean.
- It processes over 310,000 gallons per day of manure mostly from dairy cattle and 50,000 gallons per day of pre-consumer food industry waste using 8 million gallons of anaerobic digestion volume. This draws waste that would otherwise be disposed of or underutilized.
- It upgrades the biogas to pipeline RNG quality using a proprietary technology that removes contaminants such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, siloxanes, and water. The upgraded RNG meets the specifications to be used as a substitute for natural fossil gas in commercial applications.
- It injects the RNG into its wholly owned injection station that connects to an interstate natural gas pipeline. This enables NLC Energy to transport and sell its RNG to customers across the nation seeking low carbon alternatives to fossil fuels.
- Additionally, NLC Energy injects RNG from other providers through its pipeline.
- It manufactures beverage grade liquid CO2 as well as blocks and pellets of food grade dry ice from the CO2 that is removed during the biogas upgrading process. The C02 and dry ice products are sold to local customers who use them for various purposes such as carbonation, refrigeration, cleaning and blasting. (www.nlcenergydryice.com)
- Additional revenues are received through federal EPA RINS (Renewable Identification Numbers) and California LCFS (Low Carbon Fuel Standard) credits that are awarded to producers of renewable fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fuels. The qualification process is rigorous and NLC Energy has become proficient in the rigorous process of qualifying for these credits.
RNG from anaerobic digestion offers significant value from waste, generating renewable energy and fuel, reducing adverse environmental impacts, and supporting local economies. But the process is anything but simple. Reimagined from the ground up, NLC Energy’s facility is not only a world-class operation but also a model for future projects that aim to harness the potential of RNG and anaerobic digestion.