Construction commences on New Jersey RNG facility

South Jersey Industries (SJI), Opal Fuels Inc. and Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) have announced construction on a renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility, Atlantic RNG, at ACUA’s solid waste landfill in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

In conjunction with White Plains, New York-based Opal Fuels, SJI, headquartered in Folsom, New Jersey, is developing the Atlantic RNG facility through its subsidiary, SJI Renewable Energy Ventures (SJI Renewables), which specializes in developing waste-to-energy (WTE) projects in North America. South Jersey Gas, another SJI subsidiary, will enter into an interconnection agreement to accept the RNG produced by the facility.

“We have been working hard in recent years to enhance our infrastructure to deliver the fuels of the future,” South Jersey Gas President Brent Schomber says. “We are excited to work with ACUA, SJI Renewables and Opal Fuels as we celebrate a new milestone of adding RNG to our gas supply.”

Atlantic RNG, which is expected to be operational in 2025, represents the first collaboration between the companies as part of their 50/50 joint venture to develop, construct, own and operate RNG facilities.

“The groundbreaking of this renewable natural gas project signifies another milestone in our companies’ collective commitment to a sustainable energy future,” Opal Fuels co-CEO Adam Comora says. “Opal Fuels’ decades of experience in renewable energy production underpins our continued focus on our growth strategy of converting biogas resources into operating renewable energy projects. Together with SJI and ACUA, we will help bring more renewable fuel supply online and advance the clean energy transition.”

RNG is produced from a variety of biomass sources. Once processed, it is interchangeable as a carbon-neutral substitute for traditional natural gas, which SJI says can be fed through the existing South Jersey Gas natural gas infrastructure without disturbing the distribution network already in place.

“We are thrilled to host this groundbreaking energy project at our Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township,” ACUA President Matthew DeNafo says. “Our vision to efficiently reuse the gas generated at the landfill to power trucks, homes and businesses is now a reality thanks to the leadership and innovation demonstrated by the teams at ACUA, SJI and Opal Fuels.”