Air Liquide to design and build US landfill biogas purification plant

Air Liquide plans to construct and operate a landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG) purification plant in Mississippi, US.

The plant will enable the conversion of the methane emitted by waste to a renewable energy capable of heating an estimated 4,500 homes per year.  

The site in Walnut, owned by the Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority (NMSWMA), is operated by national solid waste company Waste Connections and receives approximately 350,000 tonnes of waste per year.

The NMSWMA is the local governmental agency responsible for managing solid waste disposal and providing environmentally responsible programmes and solutions to the area’s 56,000 residents.

Using Air Liquide’s gas separation membrane technology, the plant will have the capability to purify the methane emitted by waste decay and make it suitable for use. 

Expected to break ground in Q1 of 2017, the initial production capacity of the plant is planned to achieve 1,300mmBTU/day, with plans to expand. 

In addition to the biogas purification plant, Air Liquide will build and implement a dedicated four-mile pipeline that will feed the biogas into a natural gas pipeline in the area.

Construction of this pipeline will also enable the town of Walnut to expand its utility services.

Air Liquide has developed technologies and expertises that span the entire biomethane value chain.

The project will also provide numerous benefits to the surrounding communities such as short- and long-term local employment opportunities and reduction of local greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.