Manure-to-energy project to begin RNG delivery

Roeslein Alternative Energy secured an agreement in 2013 with the Missouri operations of Smithfield Foods Hog Production Division (then known as Murphy Brown-Missouri) to develop, install, own and operate processing facilities to capture, purify and sell the biogas produced from the anaerobic conversion of manure generated from one of the largest hog feeding operations in North America

Impermeable synthetic covers are now installed on 41 of the 88 existing manure lagoons at nine Smithfield farms in Northern Missouri, capturing methane from one of the largest concentrations of finishing hogs in the Midwest. The covers turn the lagoons into anaerobic digesters where as an interim step the resulting biogas has been flared.

Phase II of the project involved installation of equipment to remove impurities from the biogas to create pipeline-quality RNG. As of July 1, RNG from the anaerobic digestion of hog manure has been injected into the national pipeline using an interconnect that has been installed at Ruckman Farm. Duke Energy in North Carolina has agreed to purchase a portion of the RNG to help meet clean energy requirements for power generation.

When the project is totally complete several hundred million cubic feet of RNG will be available for similar transmission each year.

Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) is the owner, operator and developer of renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks to renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products. RAE engages in these business operations with a focus on incorporating native prairie restoration. RAE is a limited liability company with its principal offices located in St. Louis, Missouri. RAE was launched in 2012 by Rudi Roeslein, co-founder and CEO of St. Louis-based Roeslein and Associates, Inc. (a global leader in engineering, modular fabrication, and construction of industrial plant facilities)