In 2007, GTI Energy joined an industry-wide effort to establish renewable gas as a fungible zero-carbon product. An initiative launched by GTI Energy has established parameters for evaluating the suitability of biomethane products—derived from dairy waste and landfills—for safe and proper introduction into existing natural gas pipelines and to assure compatibility with existing supplies.
Since then, GTI Energy research projects sponsored by the natural gas industry and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have been adding to our industry's understanding of the chemical and biological composition of renewable gas derived from a wide range of sources, including dairy waste, landfill, and wastewater treatment sludge.
Guidance Document for the Introduction of Landfill-Derived Renewable Gas into Natural Gas Pipelines
In 2012, the GTI Energy team developed a Landfill Guidance Document, providing analytical and other key information to pipeline companies and natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs) so that parameters specific to clean biomethane derived from landfill biomass can be identified to support a productive discussion between the biomethane supplier and the gas utility company.
The Guidance Document includes a list of constituents and methodology for testing, as well as statistical analysis of the acquired data. The Document provides data for the development of contracts for landfill-derived renewable gas, specific instrumentation for identifying and monitoring trace constituents, and cleanup technologies for removing them.
Pipeline Quality Biomethane: North American Guidance Document for Interchangeability of Dairy Waste Derived Biomethane
In 2009, under the sponsorship of a consortium of gas companies, including Operations Technology Development (OTD)—and working with a number of universities and dairy farms in the Northwest, Midwest, and Western U.S.—GTI Energy scientists developed the first national biogas guidance document for introducing methane from dairy waste into existing pipelines.
This effort, GTI Energy project number 20614, provides guidance needed for the introduction of biomethane from dairy waste into existing pipelines. To support this effort, three areas of focus have been captured, with independent reports:
- Executive Summary and Acknowledgments – (GTI-09/0011)
- Task 1 Final Report: Technology Investigation, Assessment, and Analysis – (GTI-09/0012)
- Task 2 Final Report: Laboratory Testing and Analysis – (GTI-09/0013)
- Task 3 Final Report: Guidance Document for Introduction of Dairy Waste Biomethane – (GTI-09/0014)
Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Quality Assessments and Guidance Workshops
Along with our 50+ years of natural gas analysis background, GTI Energy has over 20 years of experience testing raw biogas and upgraded RNG from a diverse set of feedstocks. We have developed guidance documents that are available to help you understand the wide variety of constituents and typical levels found in raw and upgraded gas with a comparison to natural gas.
We can apply our extensive knowledge to develop a customized RNG Gas Quality Guidance Workshop to help you gain an understanding of supply stability, the impact of various constituents and their impact on pipeline integrity and end use applications, and other issues. GTI Energy can perform a quality assessment of your resources and provide insight to help you begin the process of integrating RNG in your infrastructure. Our gas analysis expertise goes beyond the routine determination of major and minor constituents as found in typical natural gas tariffs and can include all reasonably expected trace constituents based on the specific feedstock.
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