Lincoln, NE looking to produce CNG from wastewater biogas for public buses

In Nebraska, the City of Lincoln is looking to scrub the methane produced at its wastewater treatment plant and then compress it for use in as many as half of the city’s 88 public buses in the next couple of years. Currently the city has 13 CNG buses and plans to buy another seven this year, while continuing to scale up over the next few years. Though the three biogas digestors currently supply up to 60% of the city’s electricity, the income derived from the power sales are about a third less than what would be earned if the gas was scrubbed and compressed for use in transport. The generators are nearing their 25-year lifespan and will cost $7 million to replace compared to $10.5 million for scrubbing and compression.