The French firm Air Liquide has announced plans to construct and operate a landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG) purification plant in Walnut, Mississippi. When complete, the project will be the first time Air Liquide has built a renewable energy plant in the United States.

The landfill where the project will be constructed is owned by the Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority (NMSWA) and is operated by the Texas-based environmental services firm Waste Connections Inc. The facility receives about 350,000 tons of solid waste per year.

According to Air Liquide, its gas separation membrane technology will allow the plant to have the capacity to purify the methane emitted by the waste, making it suitable for residential use.

Bobby Thompson, chairman of the NMSWA, says, “This project would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of Air Liquide, the City of Walnut, Waste Connections of MS Inc. and the Waste Authority. We are certainly pleased to play a part in bringing this exciting renewable energy technology to our landfill operations in Walnut.”

The facility is expected to break ground by the first quarter of 2017. The initial production capacity of the plant will be 1,300 mm BTU per day; the company has plans to expand the operation.

In addition to the biogas purification plant, Air Liquide announced plans to build and implement a dedicated four-mile pipeline that will feed the biogas into a natural gas pipeline in the area. Construction of the pipeline will enable the town of Walnut to expand its utility services. Air Liquide has developed technologies and expertise that span the entire biomethane value chain.

Chet Benham, vice president of Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC, says, “The new biogas project will enable us to transform waste and unused energy resources into renewable, carbon-reducing energy for the community and surrounding cities. Air Liquide is actively working to continue our growth in biogas purification plants in the United States, and to provide clean energy for sustainable communities.”