Duke Energy has signed an agreement to purchase methane generated from pig and poultry waste to produce renewable electricity at four plants located in North Carolina, US.
In particular, Duke Energy has signed an agreement to purchase methane from a biogas facility, which is planned to be developed by Carbon Cycle Energy in the eastern part of North Carolina.
Carbon Cycle Energy CEO James Powell said: "We still have additional work to do with licensing, local regulations and completing our organic waste supply chain. But having a confirmed buyer like Duke Energy is a major step."
The biogas facility will use agricultural and industrial waste as fuel to generate more than 1 million MMBtus of pipeline-quality captured methane a year.
Duke Energy North Carolina president David Fountain said: "It is encouraging to see the technological advances that allow waste-to-energy projects in North Carolina to be done in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner for our customers."
The produced methane will be used by Duke Energy at its Buck and Dan River steam stations in Rowan County and Rockingham County respectively.
It will also be used at the HF Lee Station and Sutton combined cycle power plants in Wayne County and New Hanover County respectively.
The deal complies with North Carolina’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (REPS), which requires utilities to use power from agricultural waste.
Fountain added: "We are pleased to partner with Carbon Cycle Energy to help meet our compliance objectives.
"The gas from this project will generate carbon neutral electricity compared to the emissions that would result if the waste was left to decay naturally."
Duke Energy plans to generate about 125,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually required to power about 10,000 homes.
Image: Carbon Cycle’s proposed facility uses agricultural waste to generate more than 1 million MMBtus of pipeline-quality captured methane a year. Photo: courtesy of Duke Energy Corporation.