TC Energy Corp. and GreenGasUSA will collaborate to explore the development of a network of natural gas transportation hubs, including renewable natural gas (RNG), according to a press release on April 25.

These transportation hubs would provide centralized access to existing energy transportation infrastructure for renewable natural gas sources, such as farms, wastewater treatment facilities and landfills.

Combining TC Energy’s energy distribution network with GreenGasUSA’s experience in gas compression, compressed natural gas transportation and pipeline injection is expected to further increase methane capture and increase the use of renewable fuels within the energy mix.

These transportation hubs are expected to be under development in several states along TC Energy’s 32,700-mile U.S. Natural Gas pipeline system within the next four years. The first hub is targeted for in service in the second quarter of 2023.

“We have embraced the growing role of RNG in our industry and continue to explore ways to optimize our existing U.S. pipeline system in a collaborative, safe and sustainable manner,” Stanley G. Chapman III, TC Energy’s executive vice president and president of U.S. and Mexico Natural Gas, commented in the press release.

As part of this collaboration, Charleston, S.C.-based owner and operator of RNG value chain critical assets GreenGasUSA will originate RNG, which is the product of the decomposition of organic matter, condition the gas to pipeline quality and transport it to the RNG hub. This is underpinned by firm transportation contracts with TC Energy for the transport of RNG.

Calgary, Alberta-based TC Energy will build, own and operate the RNG transportation hubs, developing critical steps towards the acceleration of methane capture projects and thus the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions.

“We’re pleased to partner with TC Energy to develop these RNG hubs,” Marc Fetten, owner of GreenGasUSA, added. “These are key steps to making the planet greener by connecting sources of renewable gas to energy consumers that are serious about decarbonization and displacing fossil fuels.”

The companies anticipate the collaboration will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions through cost-effective market access to RNG developers and offer customers more economic viability and carbon-neutral energy opportunities.

The collaboration hopes to also increase equitable participation of diverse biogas sources in renewable energy markets, as well as energy resilience and independence with an emphasis on natural gas and renewables.