Swinerton, C2e Break Ground on US Largest Biogas Facility

By Laura Calugar

The ground breaking of the largest utility-scale biogas facility in the U.S., Warsaw, N.C.

Warsaw, N.C.—Swinerton Builders recently announced the commencement of construction of the largest utility-scale biogas facility in the U.S., a plant that transforms animal and food waste into clean energy. The Warsaw, N.C., project is part of Swinerton’s partnership with Carbon Cycle Energy.

Located on an 82-acre site, the plant will have the capacity to turn 4,200 tons of solid and liquid biodegradable materials into biomethane gas daily, with a goal of producing 6,500 dekatherms of biomethane per day. The facility will process organic waste feedstock product from 10-20 local farm producers of hog and chicken waste in the area. When the plant reaches full capacity, Duke Energy will use the generated gas to produce electricity with a yield of approximately 125,000 megawatts annually, which is enough to power 32,000 homes per year.

“Swinerton Builders is excited to be part of such a strong team of professionals on this first of several biomethane plants. Each plant will help stimulate local economies, make a positive and meaningful impact on the environment while easing our country’s dependency on fossil fuels,” said Kerry Atkinson, Swinerton’s Waste to Energy division manager, in a prepared statement.

The plant will address the state’s environmental performance goals by removing the discharge of animal waste from water supplies and reducing atmospheric emissions from participating farms. This large scale project is expected to take 16 months to complete and will lead to 40 permanent jobs when opened. The Warsaw plant is the first of four waste-to-energy plants that will produce and capture biomethane gas on a utility scale and be sold to various end users.

The two companies plan to build similar plants in Arizona, Arkansas and Missouri.

Image courtesy of Swinerton