Liberty (RNG) completes acquisition of Sandhill Advanced Biofuels

Liberty (RNG), LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., has completed its acquisition of Sandhill Advanced Biofuels, LLC. Sandhill is a developer of renewable natural gas (RNG) anaerobic digestion projects located on dairy farms. Sandhil has a portfolio of four projects in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The completion of this acquisition represents Liberty’s first investment in non-regulated renewable natural gas.

“The Sandhill portfolio of projects is an important one for Liberty: it gives us an opportunity to apply our expertise in renewable development to an energy-generation method known for its low net carbon intensity, and gives us a strategic foothold in a highly attractive sector of the RNG market,” said Jeff Norman, chief development officer, Algonquin Power. 

“More and more, our corporate customers are demanding renewable energy sources to fuel their operations. In conjunction with our investments in wind, solar and hydro, RNG will help us expand our renewables capabilities, and get us closer to meeting our net-zero goals,” Norman said.

Once all four projects are fully operational, they will sequester methane from dairy operations to produce an aggregate of ~500 MMBTU/day of RNG for the transportation sector. The farm-based biodigesters and upgrading systems use anaerobic digestion to produce negative carbon-intensity renewable natural gas,  which is injected into the natural gas pipeline system, displacing carbon-based natural gas. 

Additionally, the projects are expected to provide local farmers with ancillary revenue and support their efforts to optimize waste management and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Two of the sites are now fully operational with the other two sites expected to be onstrea, in 2023. 

In addition, continuing its investment into innovative clean energy fuel solutions, Liberty has signed on as one of more than 40 hydrogen ecosystem partners participating in a multi-state agreement led by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).