UGI and Synthica Energy Partner to Develop Renewable Natural Gas
Hamilton RNG Holdings has announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to develop innovative food waste digester projects to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) in Ohio and Kentucky.
Hamilton RNG is a joint venture owned by a subsidiary of UGI Energy Services (UGIES), a subsidiary of UGI Corporation and Synthica Energy.
Hamilton RNG’s first project, “Synthica St Bernard,” is being developed in the Village of St Bernard, Ohio, approximately five miles north of Cincinnati. The digester is expected to be completed in the first half of calendar 2023 and will process approximately 190,000 annual tons of food waste from nearby food manufacturers in an anaerobic digester.
The project is expected to generate approximately 250,000 MMBTUs (million BTUs) of pipeline-quality RNG each year that will be injected into a local natural gas pipeline on the regional distribution system.
Using time-tested technology, anaerobic digesters allow for the transformation of food waste into renewable energy. In recent years as the technology has evolved, advanced odour control and pretreatment options have become available which allow digesters to be compatible with more urban environments.
Hamilton RNG is also in the process of developing other digester projects in Ohio and Kentucky. RNG projects reduce waste and long-term greenhouse gas emissions, while also increasing the use of renewable energy.
GHI Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of UGI Energy Services, will be the exclusive off-taker and marketer of RNG for Hamilton RNG.
“For nearly 140 years, UGI has focused on providing safe, reliable energy delivery service to its customers and to the many communities it serves,” said Robert Beard, UGI’s Executive Vice President – Natural Gas.
“We are excited to announce this new partnership to develop pipeline-quality RNG in Ohio and Kentucky. Along with our Cayuga RNG partnership in upstate New York announced earlier this year, these projects reinforce our commitment to the development of renewable natural gas and sustainable energy, helping communities dramatically reduce their GHG emissions.”
“The benefits of organic food waste digestion are clear – environmental protection, local investment, and job creation,” said Sam Schutte, Synthica CEO. “We are on the front end of a movement which is fusing technology with environmental consciousness and creating a mutually beneficial opportunity for businesses to create more eco-friendly footprints.
“Despite being home to hundreds of manufacturers, there are currently no anaerobic digestion plants within 60 miles of Cincinnati,” Mr Schutte said. “That means operating a food manufacturing plant in our region is more expensive than in places like Cleveland or Columbus, because of the increased cost of hauling away byproducts.
That puts Cincinnati at a distinct disadvantage when trying to attract and retain manufacturing businesses. Hamilton RNG’s St. Bernard plant will add a new chapter to the area’s storied manufacturing history, with a focus on environmental stewardship and building a greener future.”
Source: Pipeline & Gas Journal