bp’s Archaea Energy Debuts Record Modular RNG Plant
bp’s Archaea Energy announced the official startup of its largest original Archaea Modular Design (AMD) renewable natural gas (RNG) plant to date in Shawnee, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City. 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 into RNG. The Shawnee plant, which is three times the size of Archaea’s first AMD plant in Medora, Indiana, brought online in October 2023, can process 9600 scfm of landfill gas into RNG — enough gas to heat around 38,000 homes annually, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Gas Energy Benefits Calculator.
“This represents another significant milestone for Archaea,” said Starlee Sykes, chief executive officer of Archaea Energy. “A plant of this size can have a positive impact in capturing emissions from a landfill and providing our customers with lower-carbon fuel. 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 — 3200 scfm, 6400 scfm, and 9600 scfm.
After purchasing Archaea Energy, bp is now the largest producer of RNG in the United States. In 2023, bp’s global biogas supply volumes were up 80% year-on-year, reflecting the Archaea uplift.
