ACUA joins partners South Jersey Industries and OPAL Fuels on South Jersey's first renewable natural gas facility powered by landfill gas.
HOW IT WORKS
As organic materials break down in the landfill, gases like carbon dioxide and methane are created. These gases are captured by an extensive gas well collection system. The gas is then cleaned to remove hydrogen sulfide and other impurities. Once clean, RNG is interchangeable as a carbon-neutral substitute for traditional natural gas and can be fed through the existing South Jersey Gas natural gas infrastructure. RNG can be used to fuel area homes, businesses, and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fueling stations, such as the one that powers ACUA’s fleet of collection vehicles.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Landfill gases currently make up 6.1 percent of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions. Methane, in particular, has a strong impact on climate change. Capturing and repurposing methane prevents this potent greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere and greatly reduces emissions.
When used as a fuel, RNG can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions as compared to diesel. RNG can help fuel ACUA’s fleet of collection vehicles that service our community.
RNG is locally sourced and plentiful. Landfills are continually producing gas as waste breaks down. Even after active landfills close, gases continue to be produced and emitted for years. This project ensures those gases are put to good use.
RNG can also be created from alternative waste management technologies, such as digestion or gasification. So even after the landfill closes, there is potential to produce RNG on-site at ACUA in the future. Construction on the project began in Fall 2023.
ACUA previously captured landfill gas and turned it into energy onsite which powered the entire Environmental Park with excess energy provided to the grid where it can be used to power area homes and businesses. The project saved ratepayers more than $8.9 million while in operation and prevented more than 25,602 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.