bp's Archaea Energy Commissions Its Largest Landfill Gas to Renewable Natural Gas Facility
bp's Archaea Energy has officially commissioned its largest Archaea Modular Design (AMD) renewable natural gas (RNG) plant in the United States
The plant, which is fully-owned by Archaea, is located in Shawnee, Kansas, next to a large, privately owned landfill. Landfill gas, a natural byproduct of landfill waste decomposition, is one form of greenhouse gas. Using the AMD, the Shawnee plant will capture the landfill gas and convert it into RNG.
The Shawnee plant - which is three times the size of Archaea's first AMD plant in Medora, Indiana - can process 9,600 standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute into RNG. This is enough gas to heat nearly 38,000 homes annually, according to the EPA's Landfill Gas Energy Benefits Calculator.
"This represents another significant milestone for Archaea. A plant of this size can have a positive impact in capturing emissions from a landfill and providing our customers with lower carbon fuel. We are excited to be operating in Kansas – a state with an exceptional record in renewable energy," said Starlee Sykes, CEO of Archaea Energy.
Traditionally, RNG plants are custom-built, but the AMD allows plants to be built on skids with interchangeable components. This standardized modular design allows for faster builds than previous industry standards.
After purchasing Archaea Energy and with the commissioning of this project, bp's global biogas supply volumes are up 80% year-over-year, and the company is now one of the largest producers of RNG in the US.
