Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is a pipeline quality gas that can replace conventional natural gas and is used in natural gas vehicles. As being the gaseous product of the decomposition of organic matter, RNG has been presented as a solution to eliminating the impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) and its effect on our atmosphere.
What Is Renewable Natural Gas
Renewable Natural Gas (1) (RNG), also known as biomethane, is a pipeline-quality gas that is fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas. RNG is produced from the decomposition of organic matter, such as municipal solid waste, wastewater, and landfill gas. The methane and carbon dioxide in RNG are derived from the decomposition of organic matter, making it a renewable resource and can be used to produce electricity, transportation fuels, and heat.
As RNG comes from the same source as conventional natural gas, it has a lower carbon dioxide content. Producing RNG reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to producing conventional natural gas an can be used to replace fossil fuels in a variety of applications.
What Is Renewable Compressed Natural Gas
Renewable Compressed Natural Gas (RCNG) is a form of RNG, which can be used as fuel for transportation, as well as Renewable Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG), to help reduce global warming.
RCNG is a clean and efficient fuel source that is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. RCNG is made from methane gas, which is produced by decomposing organic material such as agricultural waste or sewage. It can be compressed in tanks and used in vehicles, providing significant environmental benefits over traditional fuels. RCNG releases fewer emissions than gasoline or diesel, resulting in less air pollution and improved air quality.
In addition to the environmental advantages, RCNG is also more cost-effective for consumers due to its lower price compared to other fuel sources. It has a higher octane rating than gasoline and can be stored for longer periods of time without degrading. With the increasing popularity of renewable energy sources, RCNG offers a viable option for those who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint while saving money on fuel costs in the long run.
Is It Really Carbon Neutral
Carbon neutrality (2) is the process of reducing net carbon emissions to zero. This can be done through a variety of means such as investing in renewable energy, planting trees, and using more efficient methods of transportation. Many companies are now claiming to be “carbon neutral,” but is this really the case?
The main way that companies offset their carbon emissions is by investing in renewable energy projects. This is often done through the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs). While this does help to reduce emissions, it does not necessarily mean that the company is actually producing renewable energy themselves. In fact, many companies simply purchase RECs from other companies who have already made the investment in renewable energy.
Another way that companies offset their emissions is by planting trees. While this does help to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it takes many years for trees to reach maturity and begin sequestering large amounts of carbon. Additionally, trees can be lost due to fires, pests, and other natural disasters.
The most effective way to offset carbon emissions is through the use of gas infrastructure that captures and stores greenhouse gases before they are released into the atmosphere. This technology is still in its early stages of development, but it has great potential to help reduce emissions from power plants and other industries.
Benefits Of Renewable Natural Gas
RNG is quickly becoming one of the most popular renewable energy sources as its produced from organic materials that are naturally occurring and renewable. This energy source has numerous benefits compared to traditional natural gas (3). It produces fewer emissions, has a much lower carbon footprint, and does not contribute to global warming.
Additionally, RNG can be used in many applications such as heating homes and businesses, powering vehicles, and providing electricity in remote areas. Furthermore, since it is produced from existing sources, it does not require additional land or resources for its production. This makes RNG a cost-effective and sustainable energy source for the future.
What We’re Doing To Be A Part Of The Solution
The affect of methane on our climate is greater than the impact of carbon dioxide (CO2), so we are seeing a push towards alternative fuels use and we’re deciding to be part of the solution.
As we’ve been permiting and designing many minimarts and truck centers all around California since 1993, we’re actively helping gas stations change to RCNG and provide trucks with natural gas.
We also realize electric cars are going to be a large percentage of cars on the roads. So, in an effort to help make transportation more carbon neutral, we’re happy to play our part. Recently, we worked with electric charging stations and completed two projects in Kern County.
Other locations around California that we’ve done work in include Santa Barbara, Kern, Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Tulare, etc. We’re well-versed in planning and designing fueling systems, which we can now add to our offerings for new facilities offering RCNG.
Conclusion
Let’s make it a point to do what we can to improve our use of Renewable Natural Gas, so we can set our families up for a brighter and efficient tomorrow. We’re excited to be adding design of fueling systems new facilities offering Renewable Compressed Natural Gas to our offerings.
We welcome all minimarts and truck centers to be a part of the solution and contact us today for a quote!
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Sources:
- https://www.socalgas.com/sustainability/renewable-gas/what-is-renewable-natural-gas
- https://gain.inl.gov/SiteAssets/GAIN_WebinarSeries/2021.03.02_CarbonFreeFutureSeries-1/Carbon-FreeGlossary.pdf
- https://www.epa.gov/lmop/renewable-natural-gas
- https://pasquiniengineering.com/california-civil-engineering-services/
- https://pasquiniengineering.com/contact-us/