| Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), also known as bio-methane or biogas, is pipeline quality gas derived from biomass that is fully interchangeable with natural gas. The natural gas network is working to incorporate renewable gas from dairy farms, waste water treatment plants, landfills, wood waste and food waste plants.
In the Northeast, there is growing interest and initiatives among natural gas utilities toward implementing RNG.
In September 2019, NGA and GTI released a report called: "Interconnect Guide for Renewable Natural Gas in New York State." The report was sponsored by and developed in coordination with several New York State natural gas utilities. While developed for New York State, this report provides a guideline for RNG pipeline interconnections that will be applicable and of value throughout the U.S. and Canada. The guidance document provides a framework and technical guidance by which all parties - including project developers and the local gas utility - can work together utilizing common core principles and a rigorous technical framework to facilitate maximizing the acceptance and introduction of RNG into the natural gas pipeline network. The report can be found in a link at the bottom of the page.
Source: National Grid
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that "like conventional natural gas, RNG can be used as a transportation fuel in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG). RNG qualifies as an advanced biofuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard."
In an April 2023 paper on RNG, the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) noted: "The number of [RNG] projects operating in Canada are expected to more than double between 2021 and 2025...RNG is a low carbon-intensity fuel primarily because it comes from renewable organic sources like agricultural, wood and food waste. The production of all energy sources involves associated life cycle emissions. Although life cycle emissions can vary for each project, RNG will reduce total emissions compared to fossil fuel-derived natural gas because RNG projects usually involve capturing methane generated from organic sources that otherwise would have been released into the atmosphere."
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