bp’s Archaea Energy (NYSE: BP) proudly announces the official commencement of operations at its Archaea Modular Design (AMD) renewable natural gas (RNG) plant in Medora, Indiana. Situated adjacent to a landfill owned by Rumpke Waste and Recycling, this marks the first plant to go live following bp’s acquisition of Archaea in December 2022.
Landfill gas, a natural byproduct of waste decomposition in landfills, is a potent greenhouse gas. Utilizing the innovative AMD design, the Medora facility captures gas from Rumpke’s landfill and converts it into electricity, heat, or renewable natural gas. This transformation leads to improved air quality, reduced odor, and the generation of more sustainable energy compared to traditional fossil fuel sources.
The Medora plant has the capability to process 3,200 cubic feet of landfill gas per minute (scfm) into RNG. This amount of gas is sufficient to heat approximately 13,026 homes annually, according to the EPA’s Landfill Gas Energy Benefits Calculator.
Starlee Sykes, CEO of Archaea Energy, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “What we are achieving at the Medora plant is truly remarkable, and it’s just the beginning of Archaea’s journey. This represents a significant stride in our pursuit of net-zero emissions by capturing landfill emissions and offering customers lower-emission, lower-carbon fuel. We are committed to safely bringing several AMD plants online this year. I’m incredibly proud of our team, which designed, engineered, and constructed this facility, and we look forward to expanding our impact across the United States.”
Traditionally, RNG plants were custom-built, but the Archaea Modular Design introduces a game-changing approach by allowing plants to be constructed on skids with interchangeable components. This standardized modular design significantly accelerates the construction process compared to previous industry standards.
Jeff Rumpke, Area President of Rumpke Waste & Recycling, emphasized the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship: “Our family company is continually seeking technologies to reduce our overall environmental footprint and further our mission of safeguarding the environment. The addition of Archaea Energy’s RNG plant at our site will further reduce emissions and provide residents and businesses with the assurance that their waste is not only being properly disposed of but also put to good use.”
With the acquisition of Archaea, bp has emerged as the largest RNG producer in the United States, bolstering its capacity to assist customers in achieving decarbonization objectives and advancing its goal of reducing the average lifecycle carbon intensity of the energy products it offers.
Bioenergy represents one of bp’s five strategic transition growth engines, expected to grow rapidly throughout the decade and deliver approximately $2 billion in EBITDA by 2025, with an aim to surpass $4 billion by 2030. In addition to bioenergy, bp’s transition growth engines encompass convenience, EV charging, renewables & power, and hydrogen.
bp is set to invest up to $8 billion more in its transition growth businesses over the course of this decade, with the objective of allocating over 40% of its total annual capital expenditure to these areas by 2025, ultimately aiming for around 50% by 2030. This commitment underscores bp’s dedication to a sustainable and greener future.
