Construction Begins on 203,500 MMBtu/Year Renewable Natural Gas Project in Virginia, USA

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 21, Virginia Natural Gas, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), and Johnson Controls announced the official start of construction on a renewable natural gas project at the Atlantic Wastewater Treatment Plant in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The project is designed to produce approximately 203,500 MMBtu of renewable natural gas per year, using biogas generated from wastewater treatment as feedstock. After purification and upgrading, the gas will be injected into the local natural gas distribution network. The project is expected to be operational in summer 2027 and can meet the annual heating energy needs of approximately 5,000 households.

The project leverages the existing anaerobic digestion facilities at the Atlantic Wastewater Treatment Plant to recover biogas generated during wastewater treatment, and will construct natural gas purification, upgrading, and grid connection facilities. Once the processed gas meets pipeline transmission quality standards, it will enter Virginia Natural Gas's distribution network through newly built connection facilities. The wastewater treatment plant previously used its biogas for combined heat and power generation or on-site flaring; with the new facilities in operation, the scale of biogas resource recovery and utilization will be expanded.

Under the division of responsibilities among the three parties, Johnson Controls will undertake the construction and operation of the renewable natural gas production facilities, while Virginia Natural Gas will own the related production infrastructure and build and operate the supporting facilities connecting to the existing natural gas network. Mead & Hunt will provide construction management and inspection services, covering engineering construction, equipment installation, and commissioning.

This project is Virginia Natural Gas's first renewable natural gas production facility and is included in the sustainable natural gas program under Virginia's Energy Innovation Act. The project is expected to create approximately 268 jobs during construction and provide 18 long-term positions once operational. The project has previously completed arrangements for biogas procurement and site lease agreements and has obtained utility regulatory approval.