BP's Archaea Energy has officially inaugurated its Archaea Modular Design (AMD) renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Medora, Indiana. The plant is designed to capture gas emissions from a landfill owned by Rumpke Waste and Recycling and convert it into electricity, heat, or renewable natural gas. This process is aimed at reducing environmental impact, mitigating odors, and providing a sustainable energy source. The Medora plant can process 3,200 cubic feet of landfill gas per minute into RNG, which is sufficient to heat approximately 13,026 homes annually, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Landfill Gas Energy Benefits Calculator.

BP noted that RNG plants have traditionally been custom-built, but the AMD approach enables plants to be constructed with interchangeable components on skids. This standardized modular design accelerates construction compared to previous industry standards. The Medora plant is the first to come online since BP's acquisition of Archaea in December 2022.

Archaea CEO Starlee Sykes stated, "This is a powerful step forward in our net-zero journey to capture landfill emissions and provide customers with lower emission, lower carbon fuel." The company plans to bring several AMD plants online in the United States throughout the year.

Rumpke Waste & Recycling Area President Jeff Rumpke added, "The addition of Archaea Energy’s RNG plant at our site will help further reduce emissions and give residents and businesses assurance that their waste is not only being properly disposed of but also being put to good use."

BP became the largest producer of RNG in the USA through its acquisition of Archaea. Bioenergy is one of the company's five strategic transition growth engines, with BP aiming to achieve over $4 billion in EBITDA by 2030. The company intends to invest up to $8 billion more in its transition growth businesses by 2030 and increase their share of its total annual capital expenditure to around 50 percent.

In addition to its RNG efforts, BP has started construction on its 187 MWdc Peacock Solar project in Texas and has invested in Advanced Ionics, a hydrogen technology company that specializes in water vapor electrolyzer technology for green hydrogen production.

This move aligns with BP's strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and advance its commitment to clean energy and sustainability.