Renewable Natural Gas Basics: Uses, Production, Policy and Economic Drivers, and Challenges to Development

Summary

This practice note focuses on renewable natural gas (RNG), concentrating on RNG created through the process of anaerobic digestion of organic waste. This process includes, but is not limited to, the digestion of organic waste sent to landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and wastewater management ponds or lagoons on animal feeding operations. This practice note is intended to help practitioners understand the basics of RNG, explain the reasons it is increasing in value and prominence as a renewable energy resource and tool for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-especially methane-and grasp the challenges and opportunities related to RNG development.