At Calgren, we are leading the way in Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production, converting organic waste into a powerful, low-carbon fuel. Through our advanced anaerobic digestion systems, we capture methane from dairy manure at 20 local, family dairies, preventing this potent greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere. In alignment with our commitment to sustainable efficiency, the biogas captured at each of the dairy digesters is transported through a centralized gathering pipeline to our Pixley biogas upgrading facility where it is then purified and upgraded into pipeline-quality RNG.

This high-purity RNG is injected directly into the utility natural gas pipeline, where it’s used to fuel medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, providing a cleaner alternative to diesel and gasoline. Our RNG is fully compliant with California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and generates valuable credits, helping to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation across the state.

In addition to benefiting the environment, RNG production creates opportunities for local farmers and helps to close the loop between agriculture and energy, all while addressing California’s growing demand for sustainable energy solutions. Anaerobic digestion not only captures methane, a potent greenhouse gas, it also provides for the remaining digestate—a nutrient-rich co-product— to be used as high-quality fertilizer for local farms. This not only reduces the environmental impact of manure management but also enhances soil health and supports sustainable farming practices.

The operation of our digester cluster aligns with our zero-waste philosophy. By utilizing manure as a resource rather than a waste product, we contribute to a circular agricultural system that benefits both the environment and local farming communities. This approach helps to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil fertility, and foster regional economic growth.

Key Benefits of Calgren Dairy Fuels Digester Cluster and RNG Production:

• Reduced Methane Emissions: Capturing methane from dairy manure minimizes greenhouse gas emissions and reduces environmental impact by repurposing methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
• Sustainable Transportation: RNG is ideal for heavy-duty transportation, offering a cleaner, lower-carbon alternative to traditional fuels.
• Sustainable Manure Management: By transforming manure into valuable co-products, we promote efficient waste management and resource use.
• Enhanced Soil Health: Digestate serves as high-quality fertilizer, improving soil fertility and supporting sustainable crop production.
• Energy Diversification: As a renewable energy source, RNG contributes to a more resilient and diverse energy grid.

With our dairy digester cluster, Calgren is transforming waste into renewable energy, leading the way in greenhouse gas reduction, sustainable agricultural practices and demonstrating how innovation can drive both environmental and economic benefits. We’re not just reducing dairy’s carbon footprint—we’re helping to fuel a cleaner, more sustainable future.

At Calgren, we harness the energy potential of organic waste through our mixed waste biogas system. By processing dairy and non-dairy organic materials in our Pixley plant anerobic digester, we produce biogas that powers our Pixley facility, providing a reliable source of process fuel. This renewable energy source fuels our ethanol and renewable natural gas (RNG) production, ensuring that our operations remain energy-efficient and reducing our dependence on external fuel sources.

Our mixed waste biogas system exemplifies the synergy between waste reduction and energy production. By diverting organic materials from landfills, we capture their methane emissions and transform them into a valuable fuel, effectively turning waste into energy. This closed-loop process minimizes environmental impact and supports our commitment to sustainability.

Key Benefits of Calgren’s Mixed Waste Biogas:

• Waste Diversion: By processing mixed organic waste, we reduce landfill use and methane emissions.
• Process Fuel: Biogas serves as an internal energy source, powering our renewable fuel operations.
• Circular Economy: Our mixed waste biogas system turns waste into a productive resource, promoting resource efficiency.

With mixed waste biogas, Calgren is driving a cleaner, waste-to-energy future by utilizing diverse organic materials to fuel our renewable energy systems.

At our Pixley facility, Calgren produces high-quality biodiesel from multiple feedstocks.  Our unique, super-critical biodiesel plant design is capable of converting corn oil, a co-product of our ethanol production, as well as tallow and used cooking oil, both waste products, into renewable biodiesel. Biodiesel is blended with traditional diesel to create a renewable alternative, reducing harmful emissions and contributing to cleaner transportation solutions.

Our on-site biodiesel production not only makes efficient use of the resources within our facility but also supports the shift toward low-carbon fuels in the transportation industry.

Key Benefits of Calgren’s Biodiesel:

• Emission Reduction: Biodiesel burns cleaner than traditional diesel, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Resource Efficiency: By converting corn oil and waste oils into biodiesel, we maximize resource use and minimize waste.
• Sustainable Transportation: Biodiesel offers a renewable, low-carbon fuel option for heavy-duty vehicles and other industries.

With biodiesel, we are delivering renewable energy solutions that drive sustainability and lower carbon footprints in transportation.

The Tulare County Carbon Storage Project (TCCSP) is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at creating a carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub in Tulare County. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s CarbonSAFE Program, this project involves community outreach, test well development, and data analysis to determine the feasibility of using CCS to decarbonize industrial operations in the region.

Learn more about Calgren’s Tulare County Carbon Storage Project (TCCSP)

Corn oil is another vital co-product from our ethanol production process. At Calgren, we extract 1.5 million gallons of corn oil annually, using advanced separation technologies. This high-quality corn oil is utilized primarily in poultry feed, providing a high-energy ingredient that supports healthy growth and feed efficiency in the agricultural sector. The corn oil may also be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production.

The seamless integration of corn oil extraction within our ethanol production optimizes resource use, further reducing waste and enhancing our commitment to renewable, circular systems.

Key Benefits of Calgren’s Corn Oil:

• High-Energy Feedstock: Corn oil provides essential fats for animal nutrition, improving growth and production efficiency.
• Zero-Waste Approach: The extraction of corn oil from ethanol production aligns with our commitment to resource optimization.
• Agricultural Support: Corn oil contributes to more efficient and sustainable feed solutions for local poultry farms.

By maximizing the value of every corn kernel, we ensure that our operations support both renewable energy and local agricultural needs.

Calgren is at the forefront of carbon capture and utilization technology, an essential tool in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At our Pixley facility, we capture CO2 produced during the ethanol fermentation process, as well as during our biogas cleaning and upgrading process, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere. This captured CO2 is then stored and repurposed for use in various industries, including food and beverage, agriculture, and manufacturing, offering a clean, sustainable source of carbon dioxide.

This synergistic approach supports a sustainable, closed-loop system, where every co-product is either repurposed or reintegrated into the production system, maximizing resource use while minimizing environmental impact.

Key Benefits of Calgren’s Carbon Capture and Utilization:

• Emission Reduction: Capturing CO2 reduces fuel production emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation.
• Industrial Applications: Clean, captured CO2 is used across multiple industries, providing an eco-friendly carbon source.
• Zero-Waste Approach: The capture and use of CO2 from fuel production aligns with our commitment to resource optimization.

Through carbon capture and utilization, Calgren not only reduces its carbon footprint but also creates new value streams that contribute to a more sustainable, resource-efficient economy.