[Brad]

The answer is simple – replace (or supplement) your activated carbon vessels with a regenerative system. A technology that is massively underutilized in the RNG space is the regenerative siloxane and VOC reduction system. The media is regenerated automatically, often lasting for years without replacement. For any waste water or landfill gas project, the return on investment is incredible. It has a higher CapEx than vessel(s) of carbon, but a far, far lower OpEx providing rapid ROI.

In terms of providers, there is only one worth considering – the engineers at Willexa Energy invented this technology and have never missed a performance guarantee. It’s worth checking them out at http://www.WillexaEnergy.com.

willexaenergy.com

Siloxane & VOC Reduction for Biogas & RNG by Willexa Energy

Siloxane & VOC reduction for landfill & digester biogas to energy or renewable natural gas (RNG). Guaranteed, reliable and cost effective biogas treatment by Willexa Energy.

[Brad]

The report published by ICF in November 2025 titled “Near-Term Renewable Natural Gas Demand
Assessment” predicts massive growth in the RNG industry leading up to 2030. With less than 4 years to that deadline, it stands to reason that some of that growth will occur this year. While every forecast has some uncertainty, what I like about this one is that the growth it predicts is not through some new emerging market that could have the rug pulled out from under it (like IMO), but through existing markets – specifically utility mandates and corporate carbon reduction goals.

[Brad]

Hi Lorenzo;

For several years I sold three of the four upgrading technologies (PSA, membranes, water wash & amine wash), and during that time I did over 600 technology comparisons for RNG developers. I can attest that the criteria for selecting one technology over another needs to be based on which criteria has the biggest impact on life cycle project profitability. In a nutshell that means comparing all four on the basis of:

1) Performance (Risk of Shut in),

2) Reliability (Risk of Downtime),

3) OpEx,

4) Methane Recovery, and

5) CapEx

… in that order. I can also attest to the fact that while every project is different, and every technology has it’s niche where it’s the best fit, in my experience, the vast majority of the time PSA will provide the highest life cycle project profitability.

I disagree with simply reaching out to vendors to ask their opinion, as not surprisingly, each vendor suggests that the best technology is the one they sell. You need a neutral third party to do the comparison.

And while your EPC should be your best option for an unbiased technology comparison, they will often have strong preferences based on what they have the most experience with – i.e it’s easier for them to repeat what they did on a previous project that to risk learning a new technology & process. This will often cloud their judgement, keeping you from getting an truly unbiased opinion that is tailored to the specifics of your project.

[Brad]

Long term, lower OpEx will always eventually pay for higher CapEx, but you are correct, in small flow applications with relatively clean gas, it may take a while. I’d say any landfill, and most WWTPs would be a fit for a regenerative system with payback measured in months to 1 – 2 years. Ag projects generally have little or no siloxanes, so the benefit is limited to VOCs only.

[Brad]

Absolutely. With 20+ years in the biogas and RNG industry and a deep background in RNG offtake, business development, project management, investment, acquisitions, O&M, and EPC, I offer a wide range of consulting expertise. Interested parties can find out more at http://www.RNGinsight.com or reach out to me at brad@RNGinsight.com.

rnginsight.com

RNG insight | Professional Consulting Services for Biogas & RNG

Your on demand biogas & RNG consultant. RNG insight provides professional consulting services for biogas to energy and renewable natural gas (RNG) project developers, owners, financiers, investors, engineers, EPCs, technology and service providers, stations, fleets, feedstock owners, marketers, utilities and … Continue reading