Opal Fuels has made history in Florida after their successful completion of the ramp-up period at New River Solid Waste Association’s municipal solid waste landfill, making it the first facility of its kind in the state.
Located in Raiford, the facility captures naturally occurring biogas from the decomposition of organic material at the landfill and refines it into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), a usable low-carbon fuel.
The RNG will be used to feed Opal Fuels’ transportation customers at the company’s fueling stations via the Peoples Gas distribution system, Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving about 445,000 homes and businesses.
“Through our vertical integration model, from production through distribution, Opal Fuels is committed to providing our customers with cost effective, reliable transportation fuel that results in zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions,” said Adam Comora, co-CEO of Opal Fuels in the statement. “Working together with NRSWA, this facility produces new revenue streams, new jobs for the county, and provides cost savings for our customers — enabling companies to achieve net zero now at a discount.”
RNG facility is on track to make a major emission reduction impact, as it will produce approximately 5 million gasoline gallon equivalent of RNG each year. If used for transportation fuel in place of diesel, this could offset the GHG emissions from 380 heavy-duty trucks – an effect like achieving zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions!
Biogas refining processes have been lauded as a significant environmental achievement due to the dramatic emissions reductions they offer. Specifically, carbon dioxide output has decreased by an estimated 95%, with nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide respectively reduced by 90%. An impressive 98% decrease in sulfur oxide production was also reported.
The NRSWA municipal solid waste landfill is a publicly owned waste facility formed as an association of three member Florida counties: Baker, Bradford, and Union Counties. The association also accepts contracted waste from out-of-region locations.
“This is the first project in Florida to convert gas from a municipal solid waste landfill to RNG and we are happy we have been able to lead the way,” added Perry Kent, executive director of NRSWA. “This project is one more step toward New River becoming a fully sustainable solid waste treatment facility.”
Source: truckinginfo
