Renewable Natural Gas – A Limitless Energy Resource for America
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a uniquely versatile form of renewable energy, possessing characteristics unmatched by any alternatives. RNG is produced from renewable sources including American farms, wastewater plants, landfills, and other sources of what would otherwise be greenhouse gas emissions. A new study from the American Gas Foundation finds that there are vastly more potential supplies of RNG than previously believed, with up to 7,000 trillion cubic feet (TCF) available annually – an inexhaustible supply of domestic energy that avoids many of the tradeoffs common to other renewables.
Why invest in RNG? As a fully pipeline compatible fuel, RNG can be added to the existing energy system without significant overhauls to pipeline infrastructure or appliances. A natural gas stove fueled by RNG cooks as well as one fueled by natural gas from traditional geologic sources.
Because RNG is renewable, it’s a sustainable resource that won’t run out.. This makes it an unlimited supply of domestic energy that can be stored for the days of the year when we need energy the most.
Just how much natural gas does RNG make available? The ten-year average residential consumption of natural gas in the U.S. is 4,840 tBtu/year. The potential supplies of RNG are therefore theoretically able to meet a massive amount of current and future demand. Deploying this RNG could deliver more than 328 million metric tons of annual GHG emission reductions by 2050 and do so at a cost of a fraction of alternatives like electrification. A typical new natural gas home today saves the homeowner up to $7,500 over the first fifteen years compared to an all-electric home. According to AGA’s Building for Efficiency report, deploying even modest amounts of renewable natural gas (as little as 12-20%) could reduce emissions significantly compared to all-electric homes while retaining up to 81% of the cost savings offered by natural gas.
The benefits RNG can offer our economy are immediate. Farmers across America have begun investing in RNG digestors, turning what was once unprofitable waste into a solid new revenue stream. This makes our farmers more economically resilient, giving them more money to invest in the most efficient agricultural technologies and tools available and paying further dividends down the line. Natural gas is a critical component in most modern synthetic fertilizers. The RNG produced by these farms helps to ensure that our fertilizer industry will be well supplied for the indefinite future, shielding American farmers and the citizens who rely on their produce from the impacts of global disruptions to energy or fertilizer markets.
Interested in learning more about the opportunities American RNG has to offer? Click here to read the study for yourself!