bp-owned Archaea Energy has announced the official startup of its largest original Archaea Modular Design (AMD) renewable natural gas (RNG) plant to date, located in Shawnee, Kan. The plant, which is fully-owned by Archaea, is located next to a large, privately-owned landfill.
Landfill gas, a natural byproduct of the decomposition of waste in landfills, is a form of greenhouse gas. Using the AMD, the Shawnee plant captures the gas from the landfill and converts it to renewable natural gas. The Shawnee plant, which is three times the size of Archaea’s first AMD plant in Medora, Ind., brought online in October 2023, can process 9,600 standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute (scfm) into RNG — enough gas to heat around 38,000 homes annually, according to the EPA’s Landfill Gas Energy Benefits Calculator.
“This represents another significant milestone for Archaea. A plant of this size can have a positive impact in capturing emissions from a landfill and providing our customers with lower carbon fuel,” said Starlee Sykes, CEO of Archaea Energy. “We are excited to be operating in Kansas — a state with an exceptional record in renewable energy.”
Traditionally, RNG plants have been custom built, but the AMD allows plants to be built on skids with interchangeable components. Using a standardized modular design leads to faster builds than previous industry standards. AMD plants are designed to come in three sizes — 3,200 scfm, 6,400 scfm and 9,600 scfm.
After purchasing Archaea Energy, bp is now the largest producer of RNG in the U.S. In 2023, bp’s global biogas supply volumes were up 80% year-on-year, reflecting the Archaea uplift.
bp is investing in America’s energy system as it transitions from an international oil company to an integrated energy company. With $150 billion invested in the U.S. since 2005, it employs more than 30,000 people and support more than 300,000 jobs. bp has a bigger footprint in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world.
