Biogas Upgrading Equipment: A Growing Market for RNG Production
The global biogas upgrading equipment market exceeded $2.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to surpass $6.7 billion by 2035, driven by tightening emissions regulations, expanding renewable fuel standards, and the rising value of carbon credits. Europe leads with over 1,500 operational biomethane plants, while North America saw a record 125 new biogas projects come online in 2024 alone—95% of which included upgrading to pipeline-quality RNG.
Core Upgrading Technologies
| Technology | Methane Recovery | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Water Wash | 97–99% | Mid-to-large scale; proven, low chemical cost |
| Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) | 95–98% | Flexible feedstock; handles N₂/O₂ contaminants |
| Membrane Separation | 95–99% | Compact, modular; low maintenance |
| Amine Scrubbing | 99%+ | Highest purity; co-produces food-grade CO₂ |
Key Selection Criteria for Buyers
- Feedstock Compatibility
- Landfill gas, agricultural waste, wastewater sludge, and food waste each present different contaminant profiles. Siloxanes in landfill gas, H₂S in dairy biogas, and nitrogen in certain waste streams all affect technology choice.
- Capacity and Scalability
- Systems range from 40 Nm³/h for small farm operations to 10,000+ Nm³/h for large municipal plants. Modular designs from vendors like DMT and Bright Renewables allow phased expansion.
- CO₂ Monetization
- Several vendors now offer integrated CO₂ capture—Malmberg's AQUAERA and Air Liquide's cryogenic systems can produce food-grade or industrial-grade CO₂ as an additional revenue stream.
- Carbon Credit Eligibility
- RNG from qualifying upgrading facilities can generate LCFS credits (California), RINs (US federal), or Guarantees of Origin (EU). Technology choice and methane slip rates directly impact credit value.
Notable Vendor Differentiators
Greenlane Renewables (Vancouver) offers all three major technologies—water wash, PSA, and membrane—under one roof, with over 135 installations across 19 countries. Malmberg (Sweden) has specialized in water wash since 1997 and recently launched the AQUAERA platform with integrated CO₂ capture. Waga Energy (France) developed the proprietary WAGABOX technology specifically for landfill gas, combining membrane permeation with cryogenic distillation.