Smithfield Foods and RAE invest further $45 million in bioenergy joint venture
Smithfield Foods and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) have announced an additional $45 million (€41.5 million) investment in their Monarch Bioenergy joint venture.
The project involves methane being captured from hog manure to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) in Missouri, US. The latest investment will enable the companies to expand the project on Smithfield's farms, resulting in RNG generation at 85% of the company's facilities in the state.
Currently, the manure-to-energy projects are in operation at five of Smithfield's farms in northern Missouri. The Monarch Bioenergy venture forms part of the company's efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2025.
"Smithfield and RAE have been innovating manure-to-energy technology together in Missouri since 2014," said Kraig Westerbeek, senior director of Smithfield Renewables and hog production environmental affairs for Smithfield Foods. "Our companies have a longstanding commitment to renewable energy, and we're thrilled to be one step closer to having nearly all our Missouri finishing farms engaged in producing RNG."
Rudi Roeslein, president of RAE, added: "The scale of Smithfield's operations and our expertise in renewable energy production have created the ideal partnership to have a tangible impact on carbon emissions. The latest phase of Monarch Bioenergy demonstrates our shared commitment to creating a sustainable future for families with new sources of renewable energy."
The project involves methane being captured from hog manure to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) in Missouri, US. The latest investment will enable the companies to expand the project on Smithfield's farms, resulting in RNG generation at 85% of the company's facilities in the state.
Currently, the manure-to-energy projects are in operation at five of Smithfield's farms in northern Missouri. The Monarch Bioenergy venture forms part of the company's efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2025.
"Smithfield and RAE have been innovating manure-to-energy technology together in Missouri since 2014," said Kraig Westerbeek, senior director of Smithfield Renewables and hog production environmental affairs for Smithfield Foods. "Our companies have a longstanding commitment to renewable energy, and we're thrilled to be one step closer to having nearly all our Missouri finishing farms engaged in producing RNG."
Rudi Roeslein, president of RAE, added: "The scale of Smithfield's operations and our expertise in renewable energy production have created the ideal partnership to have a tangible impact on carbon emissions. The latest phase of Monarch Bioenergy demonstrates our shared commitment to creating a sustainable future for families with new sources of renewable energy."
