Greening the Supply Chain: Monarch's Ultra-Low Carbon RNG

Greening the Supply Chain: Monarch Bioenergy's Ultra-Low Carbon RNG Revolution

Monarch Bioenergy transforms agricultural by-products into a powerful tool for decarbonizing transportation and food production supply chains. Through its innovative approach to renewable natural gas (RNG) production, Monarch sets new standards for sustainability and circular economy practices in the agricultural sector.

From Farm to Clean Energy

Monarch's core technology involves capturing methane emissions from hog manure and converting them into ultra-low carbon intensity RNG. This process prevents potent greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere and creates a versatile, clean energy source that can be used across various industries. Key aspects of Monarch's RNG production include:

1. Anaerobic digestion of hog manure from Smithfield Foods' farms
2. Purification of biogas into pipeline-quality natural gas
3. Distribution of RNG to markets across the country

Record-Breaking Carbon Intensity Scores

What sets Monarch's RNG apart is its consistently low carbon intensity (CI) scores. The company's biogas has received some of the industry's lowest LCFS (Low Carbon Fuel Standard) carbon intensity scores. This achievement means Monarch's RNG reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes improved air and carbon benefits.

Closing the Loop: Beyond Energy Production

Monarch's commitment to sustainability extends beyond RNG production. The company is actively working to create closed-loop, zero-waste systems on large farms via:

1. Nutrient Recovery: Anaerobic digestion byproducts are used as feedstock for other farm-related applications, including fertilizer production and soil regeneration.
2. Water Conservation: Monarch is exploring ways to turn effluent waste from the digester process into clean water for irrigation.
3. Compostable Fiber: Another potential byproduct being investigated is the creation of compostable fiber or other useful products from digester waste.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem services

In partnership with Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE), Monarch is going beyond energy production to support biodiversity and ecosystem services:

• Prairie Grass Restoration: Thousands of acres of prairie grass have been planted across Missouri, providing habitat for wildlife, including monarch butterflies.
• Carbon Sequestration: These prairie grasses naturally sequester carbon, further enhancing Monarch's operations' carbon-negative impact.
• Water Management: The restored prairies help store and filter water, improving the water quality.

Scaling for Impact

Monarch's success is a blueprint for sustainable agriculture and energy production. The company is expanding its operations:

• Currently operating over ten production facilities in the United States
• Over twenty additional ultra-low CI RNG projects in development
• Building the nation's most extensive biogas-dedicated midstream pipeline network in the Southeastern United States

Future Innovations

Monarch continues to push the boundaries of sustainable energy and agriculture:

1. Exploring the use of prairie grass as an additional feedstock for RNG production
2. Developing novel bio-based nutrient products and sustainable fertilizers
3. Investigating emerging technologies to optimize the circular economy model further

By transforming agricultural waste into clean energy and valuable byproducts, Monarch Bioenergy is not just greening the supply chain—it's revolutionizing the relationship between agriculture, energy production, and environmental stewardship. As the company continues to grow and innovate, it's setting new standards for sustainability in the biogas industry and beyond.