Clean Energy Fuels to Build Nine RNG Production Facilities
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Clean Energy Fuels is teaming up with Maas Energy Works to build nine renewable natural gas production facilities at dairy farms across seven states, the companies said May 14.
Facilities will be built at dairies in Colorado, South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska and New Mexico. The sites are expected to be online in 2026 and carry a cost of about $130 million to build, the companies said.
Maas Energy Works specializes in construction of so-called lagoon cover dairy digesters that deploy a large tarp over a manure lagoon to capture and reuse methane emissions. The company has built more than 60 such facilities over the past decade.
In total, manure from a herd of about 35,000 cows will produce around 4 million gallons of RNG per year at the facilities, the partners said.
Excited for our new endeavor with the team of experts at @maasenergyworks. Nine #renewablenaturalgas #RNG projects across 7 states will collect the manure from a combined herd size of 35,000 cows preventing harmful emissions from entering the atmosphere.https://t.co/mfEaNM5PE0 pic.twitter.com/gicoC9UqXo — Clean Energy (@ce_renewables) May 15, 2024
“This JV brings together expertise from a seasoned RNG developer and producer and Clean Energy’s extensive RNG distribution network and growing RNG customer base. We are excited to continue our long working relationship with the team at Maas Energy Works to get these facilities online and producing pipeline-quality RNG to help supply our transportation fleet customers with clean fuel to help them meet their sustainability goals,” said Clay Corbus, senior vice president at Clean Energy.
Agriculture accounts for nearly 10% of U.S. GHG emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Capturing methane from farm waste lowers these emissions.
In April, Clean Energy finished construction of its latest RNG production facility at Victory Farms Dairy in Revillo, S.D. The site will produce an estimated 900,000 gallons of RNG annually and cost $26 million to build.
Clean Energy currently has five RNG production sites that are operational and three under construction, a spokeswoman for the company said May 16.
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The latest two opened in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area in February, both with multiple dispensers. The North Fort Worth station also offers 82 overnight fueling posts for heavy-duty trucks. The South Dallas site has 80 overnight fuel posts for heavy-duty trucks.
Clean Energy also operates more than 600 RNG fueling stations in North America. Natural gas fuel tanks in Class 8 trucks can be filled in 10-15 minutes, according to Clean Energy.
Demand for RNG, compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas from carriers could grow as truck makers and fleets look to reduce emissions from heavy-duty trucks.
Engine manufacturer Cummins recently unveiled its Cummins X15N natural gas engine. Kenworth said May 15 it plans to begin production of its Class 8 T680 tractor and T880 vocational truck with the X15N as an available option in the third quarter of 2024. Sister company Peterbilt will offer the X15N on its 579 semi, 567 vocational truck and 520 refuse truck models. The company also expects to start production of the trucks in the third quarter. Both Kenworth and Peterbilt are units of Paccar Inc.
Daimler Truck North America subsidiary Freightliner is set to begin production of X15N-equipped Cascadias in 2025, it said in October.
Meantime, Volvo Trucks North America parent company Volvo Group is set to launch its high-pressure gas-injection fuel system joint venture with Westport Fuel Systems later in the second quarter. The partners hope to sell the technology to rival original equipment manufacturers too.
