Nicor Gas’ 2021-approved renewable gas programme enabled its first biogas plant connection, which went live in June 2024. Credit: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock.

Nicor Gas has announced the opening of its first RNG interconnection with Air Liquide’s RNG facility, representing a milestone for Illinois’ clean energy sector.

Nicor Gas’ renewable gas interconnection pilot programme, approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2021, facilitated the utility’s first-ever connection of a biogas upgrading plant to its delivery system. This interconnection went live on 12 June 2024.

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The Air Liquide plant is heralded as the largest of its kind globally, with the capacity to produce an estimated 1.3 million metric million British thermal units (MMBtu) per year. This output could potentially displace the natural gas needs of approximately 12,000 homes annually.

The RNG facility in Rockford, Illinois, is adjacent to the Winnebago Landfill operated by Waste Connections.

RNG is considered a critical component in the transition to a low-carbon economy. It is created from the biogas emitted by decomposing organic waste from landfills, wastewater treatment and agricultural processes.

Air Liquide’s facility captures and purifies this biogas, converting it into RNG that is compatible with existing natural gas pipelines.

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Nicor Gas president and CEO Wendell Dallas said: “This interconnection is a significant step forward for Nicor Gas and Southern Company Gas on the path to a sustainable energy future for Illinois and facilitating economy-wide carbon reductions while fuelling resiliency, energy security and the growth of the clean energy economy.”

Nicor Gas’ pipeline infrastructure plays an essential role in this process by enabling the transportation of RNG, thus facilitating reduced emissions.

The company will receive and retire 13,900MMBtu of environmental attributes annually from the project, which will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from its operations.