Project developer EDF Renewable Energy, based in San Diego, has agreed to acquire the Heartland Biogas Project with Heartland Renewable Energy LLC of Longmont, Colo.

Construction on the 20 megawatt-equivalent anaerobic digester and renewable natural gas (RNG) facility is underway, and biogas deliveries are expected to begin by April of 2014, according to an EDF press release.

The project, located in Weld County near LaSalle, Colo., will use a complete mix anaerobic digester (AD) system to produce up to 4,700 million British Thermal Units (btu) of biogas daily, making it one of the largest anaerobic digester facilities in the United States.

The AD system converts organic feedstock and dairy cow manure into raw biogas. The biogas is then processed into pipeline-quality RNG. After being conditioned to pipeline grade, the RNG will be supplied to Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) through a 20-year gas purchase agreement (GPA), EDF says.

“This acquisition marks a significant milestone in the expansion of our renewable portfolio as EDF Renewable Energy’s first project in the anaerobic digestion segment,” says Ralph Daley, vice president, landfill gas holding for EDF Renewable Energy. “Our experience gained though the management and operation of the Greentree and Imperial Landfill Biogas projects, as well as the European biogas experience of our parent company, will provide the knowledge base to efficiently manage the construction and operations. We are fortunate to combine our skills with the anaerobic digestion experience of the Heartland Renewable Energy team.”

James Potter, president of AgEnergy USA LLC, Hampton, N.H, and majority owner and project developer of Heartland Renewable Energy confirms, "We have a great partner with EDF Renewable Energy, and we look forward to a long-term relationship resulting in the successful construction, start up and operation of this exceptional project.