Economic and environmental performance of biomass gasification for renewable natural gas production in the context of the U.S. natural gas supply

O. A. Oyedeji; A. M. Moore; D. Kamath; I. K. Busch; S. J. Curran; M. Henriksen; M. Jaimeson; T. E. Fout; E. G. Webb; M. H. Langholtz; T. J. Theiss

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670

Economic and environmental performance of biomass gasification for renewable natural gas production in the context of the U.S. natural gas supply

O. A. Oyedeji
, A. M. Moore
, D. Kamath
, I. K. Busch
, S. J. Curran
, M. Henriksen
, M. Jaimeson
, T. E. Fout
, E. G. Webb
, M. H. Langholtz
, T. J. Theiss

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bioenergy technologies offer potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One such promising technology is biomass gasification, which is the conversion of biomass into renewable natural gas (RNG) for use with a natural gas combined-cycle power generation system. However, the associated economic and emission effects need to be better understood to enable optimal decision-making and avoid missed opportunities for enhancing efficiency and increasing system circularity. This analysis explores opportunities to (1) decarbonize natural-gas-based systems and (2) leverage the extensive US natural gas infrastructure to mobilize biomass resources to achieve environmental and economic benefits. In this analysis, the research team used a spatially explicit biomass logistics model (integrated with relevant biomass availability, technoeconomic analysis, and life cycle assessment information) to simulate economically optimal biomass allocation for RNG production and use for decarbonization in the United States. Results show that the United States has the potential to produce 9203 million GJ of RNG within the expected range of $12–30/GJ. Further analyses tested the overall RNG production system's sensitivity to economic and emissions parameters of nine different processes. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the median carbon abatement cost of RNG is most sensitive to changes in emissions associated with conversion processes and land use changes. These findings provide a deeper understanding of RNG's economic and emission potential for decision-making and guiding future research.

Original language	English
Article number	107670
Journal	Biomass and Bioenergy
Volume	197
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670
State	Published - Jun 2025

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from DOE's Fossil Energy and Carbon Management under Award Number FWP-FEAA422 (funding period: 2021 – 2023). This material is based upon work supported by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. The authors gratefully acknowledge support from DOE’s Fossil Energy and Carbon Management under Award Number FWP-FEAA422.

Keywords

Biomass resource assessment
Carbon abatement cost
Life cycle assessment
Renewable natural gas
Spatial analysis
Technoeconomic analysis

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10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670

Cite this

Oyedeji, O. A., Moore, A. M., Kamath, D., Busch, I. K., Curran, S. J., Henriksen, M., Jaimeson, M., Fout, T. E., Webb, E. G., Langholtz, M. H., & Theiss, T. J. (2025). Economic and environmental performance of biomass gasification for renewable natural gas production in the context of the U.S. natural gas supply. Biomass and Bioenergy, 197, Article 107670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670

@article{e9dff5384e704033a4061bf7667c3dae,

title = "Economic and environmental performance of biomass gasification for renewable natural gas production in the context of the U.S. natural gas supply",

abstract = "Bioenergy technologies offer potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One such promising technology is biomass gasification, which is the conversion of biomass into renewable natural gas (RNG) for use with a natural gas combined-cycle power generation system. However, the associated economic and emission effects need to be better understood to enable optimal decision-making and avoid missed opportunities for enhancing efficiency and increasing system circularity. This analysis explores opportunities to (1) decarbonize natural-gas-based systems and (2) leverage the extensive US natural gas infrastructure to mobilize biomass resources to achieve environmental and economic benefits. In this analysis, the research team used a spatially explicit biomass logistics model (integrated with relevant biomass availability, technoeconomic analysis, and life cycle assessment information) to simulate economically optimal biomass allocation for RNG production and use for decarbonization in the United States. Results show that the United States has the potential to produce 9203 million GJ of RNG within the expected range of \$12–30/GJ. Further analyses tested the overall RNG production system's sensitivity to economic and emissions parameters of nine different processes. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the median carbon abatement cost of RNG is most sensitive to changes in emissions associated with conversion processes and land use changes. These findings provide a deeper understanding of RNG's economic and emission potential for decision-making and guiding future research.",

keywords = "Biomass resource assessment, Carbon abatement cost, Life cycle assessment, Renewable natural gas, Spatial analysis, Technoeconomic analysis",

author = "Oyedeji, \{O. A.\} and Moore, \{A. M.\} and D. Kamath and Busch, \{I. K.\} and Curran, \{S. J.\} and M. Henriksen and M. Jaimeson and Fout, \{T. E.\} and Webb, \{E. G.\} and Langholtz, \{M. H.\} and Theiss, \{T. J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670",

language = "English",

volume = "197",

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Oyedeji, OA , Moore, AM , Kamath, D , Busch, IK , Curran, SJ, Henriksen, M, Jaimeson, M, Fout, TE, Webb, EG , Langholtz, MH & Theiss, TJ 2025, 'Economic and environmental performance of biomass gasification for renewable natural gas production in the context of the U.S. natural gas supply', Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 197, 107670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670

TY - JOUR

T1 - Economic and environmental performance of biomass gasification for renewable natural gas production in the context of the U.S. natural gas supply

AU - Oyedeji, O. A.

AU - Moore, A. M.

AU - Kamath, D.

AU - Busch, I. K.

AU - Curran, S. J.

AU - Henriksen, M.

AU - Jaimeson, M.

AU - Fout, T. E.

AU - Webb, E. G.

AU - Langholtz, M. H.

AU - Theiss, T. J.

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - Bioenergy technologies offer potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One such promising technology is biomass gasification, which is the conversion of biomass into renewable natural gas (RNG) for use with a natural gas combined-cycle power generation system. However, the associated economic and emission effects need to be better understood to enable optimal decision-making and avoid missed opportunities for enhancing efficiency and increasing system circularity. This analysis explores opportunities to (1) decarbonize natural-gas-based systems and (2) leverage the extensive US natural gas infrastructure to mobilize biomass resources to achieve environmental and economic benefits. In this analysis, the research team used a spatially explicit biomass logistics model (integrated with relevant biomass availability, technoeconomic analysis, and life cycle assessment information) to simulate economically optimal biomass allocation for RNG production and use for decarbonization in the United States. Results show that the United States has the potential to produce 9203 million GJ of RNG within the expected range of $12–30/GJ. Further analyses tested the overall RNG production system's sensitivity to economic and emissions parameters of nine different processes. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the median carbon abatement cost of RNG is most sensitive to changes in emissions associated with conversion processes and land use changes. These findings provide a deeper understanding of RNG's economic and emission potential for decision-making and guiding future research.

AB - Bioenergy technologies offer potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One such promising technology is biomass gasification, which is the conversion of biomass into renewable natural gas (RNG) for use with a natural gas combined-cycle power generation system. However, the associated economic and emission effects need to be better understood to enable optimal decision-making and avoid missed opportunities for enhancing efficiency and increasing system circularity. This analysis explores opportunities to (1) decarbonize natural-gas-based systems and (2) leverage the extensive US natural gas infrastructure to mobilize biomass resources to achieve environmental and economic benefits. In this analysis, the research team used a spatially explicit biomass logistics model (integrated with relevant biomass availability, technoeconomic analysis, and life cycle assessment information) to simulate economically optimal biomass allocation for RNG production and use for decarbonization in the United States. Results show that the United States has the potential to produce 9203 million GJ of RNG within the expected range of $12–30/GJ. Further analyses tested the overall RNG production system's sensitivity to economic and emissions parameters of nine different processes. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the median carbon abatement cost of RNG is most sensitive to changes in emissions associated with conversion processes and land use changes. These findings provide a deeper understanding of RNG's economic and emission potential for decision-making and guiding future research.

KW - Biomass resource assessment

KW - Carbon abatement cost

KW - Life cycle assessment

KW - Renewable natural gas

KW - Spatial analysis

KW - Technoeconomic analysis

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105001475662

U2 - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670

DO - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107670

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105001475662

SN - 0961-9534

VL - 197

JO - Biomass and Bioenergy

JF - Biomass and Bioenergy

M1 - 107670

ER -

Economic and environmental performance of biomass gasification for renewable natural gas production in the context of the U.S. natural gas supply

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Keywords

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