French industrial gases provider Air Liquide has announced plans to construct and operate a landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG) purification plant in the US.
The LFG-to-RNG biogas purification plant will be location in Mississippi, at Walnut’s Northeast Mississippi Landfill (NEML).
It will purify methane released by waste decay and make it reusable as a natural gas using the gas separation membrane technology developed by Air Liquide.
Construction of the purification plant is likely to begin in the first quarter of next year. Air Liquide is planning to achieve an initial production capacity of 1,300 mmBTU/day from the plant which could be boosted later.
Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. VP Chet Benham said: "The new biogas project will enable us to transform waste and unused energy resources into renewable, carbon-reducing energy for the community and surrounding cities.
“Air Liquide is actively working to continue our growth in biogas purification plants in the U.S., and to provide clean energy for sustainable communities."
The landfill site is owned by the Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority. It is operated by Waste Connections, the national solid waste company which fills the site with around 350,000 tons of waste per year.
Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority chairman Bobby Thompson said: "This project would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of Air Liquide, the City of Walnut, Waste Connections of MS, and the Waste Authority. We are certainly pleased to play a part in bringing this exciting renewable energy technology to our landfill operations in Walnut."
Apart from the biogas purification plant, Air Liquide will also construct a four mile long pipeline to release the biogas into a nearby natural gas pipeline.
The project is expected to create new job openings in the area besides helping Walnut in reducing the levels of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Image: A commissioned Air Liquide biogas purification unit. Photo: courtesy of Air Liquide.