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Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

RESOURCES › BIOENERGY & BIOPROCESS SYSTEMS

Decarbonizing Pipelines and Fueling Low-Carbon Transportation

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), also known as biomethane, is pipeline-quality gas produced by capturing and upgrading raw biogas from organic waste streams. Derived from municipal solid waste landfills, livestock manure digesters, industrial wastewater facilities, and agricultural residues, RNG is chemically identical to conventional natural gas. By capturing fugitive methane emissions and displacing fossil fuels, RNG provides an immediate, drop-in solution to decarbonize thermal energy, heavy-duty transport fleets, and industrial chemical processes using existing gas infrastructure.

Key Pillars & Upgrading Technologies

Transforming raw biogas into fuel-grade RNG requires precise gas conditioning and separation technologies across three operational pillars:

Gas Pre-Treatment & Conditioning

Removing harmful trace contaminants, including hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), moisture, siloxanes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to prevent pipeline corrosion and equipment degradation.

Biogas Upgrading & Carbon Dioxide Separation

Utilizing advanced separation systems—such as polymeric membranes, Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA), or amine scrubbing—to strip out CO₂ and elevate methane concentrations to 95–99% purity.

Pipeline Injection & Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

Compressing purified biomethane for direct injection into commercial gas utility networks, or dispensing it as Bio-CNG and Bio-LNG for heavy-duty commercial truck and marine fleets.

Explore the Renewable Natural Gas Resource Repository

Access all peer-reviewed literature, state technical reports, and workshop presentation slide decks.

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Funding & Acknowledgments

The Louisiana Energy Extension Service (LEES) is primarily funded via the State of Louisiana through legislative support approved by Gov. Jeff Landry, EIL-based funding, and donations from various industry stakeholders.