Vision RNG has signed a gas rights agreement to purchase raw landfill gas (LFG) from the Greenwood County South Carolina landfill for up to 25 years.
LFG, a natural byproduct of decomposing landfill waste, is typically collected and flared to burn off the methane in it as required by regulators. However, collecting and converting the methane present in LFG into a renewable fuel is expected to serve as a solution to reduce the need for combustion of new fossil fuels.
RNG stands for renewable natural gas, a refined biofuel which has a lowered carbon footprint than methane gas.
"Greenwood County is proud to partner with Vision RNG on this long-term agreement,” Greenwood County Council Chairman Chuck Moates said in a statement. “By capturing methane from our landfill and converting it into renewable energy, we are taking meaningful action that makes sense both environmentally and economically. We look forward to seeing the positive effects of this project for many years to come."
Read ET's full coverage of landfills serving the Energy Transition
Vision RNG personnel will work with county and landfill personnel over the next 12 months to optimize the existing gas collection and control system (GCCS) to determine the amount of gas available. This will help decide the type of project to be supported by the landfill, an RNG or a power production project.
While RNG will be used by various customers across the U.S. for transportation fuel and other sustainable purposes, power will be sold directly to the local grid operator.
Methane leakage is considered a major environmental and health danger by scientists. It is calculated to be multiple times more damaging as a greenhouse gas than CO2, according to reports.
