Impact Bioenergy > Organic Renewable Natural Gas

Organic Renewable Natural Gas

Microscale RNG and CNG Fueling

Impact Bioenergy is successfully generating carbon-negative Bio-CNG (Renewable Natural Gas: RNG) fueling for both Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and portable fuel cylinders. This is a breakthrough in both scale and carbon reduction for users of gasoline, diesel, and propane fuels. It allows fuel to be generated onsite from food waste.

Bio-CNG is derived from the anaerobic digestion of food waste, plant waste, and animal waste. The scale of the system is small enough to be relocatable, modular, and prefabricated. It allows renewable fueling on a small, distributed scale which is appropriate for farms, campuses, resorts, islands, municipalities, and any community that seeks resilience.

Renewable Fueling

The fueling rate for vehicles is 381,000 BTU per hour (3.3 GGE/hr; gallons of gasoline equivalent at 3,600 psig). The fueling rate for portable fuel cylinders is 564,000 BTU per hour (6.2 GLPGE/hr; gallons of propane equivalent at 145 psig). The fuel being generated is fully refined Renewable Natural Gas (Biomethane) at 96.5% purity (984 BTU per standard cubic foot). An AD185-2 CNG NAUTILUS anaerobic digester is generating the biogas for the system.

Vehicle Fueling Rate 381,000 BTU/hour

3.3 GGE/hr; gallons of gasoline equivalent at 3,600 psig

Portable Fuel Cylinder Fueling Rate 564,000 BTU/hour

6.2 GLPGE/hr; gallons of propane equivalent at 145 psig

Renewable Natural Gas (Biomethane) Generated 96.5% Purity

984 BTU per standard cubic foot

ORNG Exchange Service

Impact Bioenergy is offering ORNG (Organic Renewable Natural Gas) tank exchange services for the first time on Vashon-Maury Island, Washington. These fuel cylinders can be used for entertainment, recreation, work, play, and outdoor cooking. Bio-CNG does not settle on floors, basements, and bilges as it is normally lighter than air. The concept is the same as a typical LPG propane tank exchange service but the Bio-CNG fuel is carbon-negative at a rate that is over 3 times (320%) better for the atmosphere than propane. Every BTU of Bio-CNG used removes 2.2 BTU of propane emissions.

The carbon reduction benefits of Bio-CNG from food waste and other organic wastes offers the opportunity to truly minimize carbon emissions from combustion engines. Switching to Bio-CNG is proven to capture more greenhouse gases than it emits, therefore its life cycle has a net-negative carbon intensity. In fact, specific recent studies have proven the use of Bio-CNG will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 400% from conventional diesel fuel. Every gallon equivalent of Bio-CNG used removes 3 gallons of diesel emissions.