Insights

AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in the UK, is partnering with Vanguard Renewables, a U.S.-based developer, owner, and operator of farm-based anaerobic digestion projects, through an agreement to procure renewable natural gas (RNG) for AstraZeneca’s U.S.facilities for the next 15 years or more.

Farm Powered anaerobic digestion is a powerful process that recycles organic waste, mainly food and beverage waste from the manufacturing sector and dairy cow manure, into renewable natural gas (RNG). It’s a pretty simple process – think of it as a giant Crock-Pot that is full of methanogens – which are naturally found in cow manure - that gobbles up the food waste and the manure and creates biogas. That biogas is then cleaned, upgraded, and becomes a powerful tool to fight climate change – renewable natural gas. A drop-in replacement for fossil natural gas and is one of the tools in our toolbox to mitigate climate change.

President Biden has set an ambitious goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, but is that achievable? It is the challenge of our generation and one of the most exciting business opportunities ever presented to the United States. Much like John F. Kennedy’s call for a man on the moon, the potential for creating longstanding U.S. hegemonies in power generation and conduction abound.

The research, development and production of medicines is an energy intensive process. As part of our transition to net zero, we have announced a series of innovative partnerships which are decarbonising our operations, expanding access to renewable energy and contributing to the circular economy.

On episode 184 of The Green Insider, Neil Smith, CEO of Vanguard Renewables, discusses food waste, manure, landfill, carbon accounting, natural gas prices, and the carbon intensity (CI) score. Neil also talks about repurposing methane for good. This episode features another informative podcast on RNG.