RenewableLink Powers RNG Facilities into the Future

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Clean Energy) is the largest provider of renewable natural gas (RNG) — a sustainable fuel derived from organic waste — in the U.S. The company’s mission to decarbonize the transportation sector, by supplying fleets across the nation with RNG, has helped users of large vehicles make significant reductions to their Scope 1 and Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Beginning with a goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 25% by 2025 over a 2017 baseline¹, the company has been taking consistent steps toward its commitment of climate neutrality by 2035.
 

Challenge

Clean Energy identified that it could make significant progress towards the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 25% by 2025, by minimizing its Scope 2 emissions, defined as indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heating or cooling. Clean Energy explored various undesirable solutions, including costly investment options, a complex mix of energy solutions, and integrating renewable energy into its current electricity supply contract. The company was in need of a strategic yet straightforward means of procuring the renewable energy it needed to reduce emissions from its facilities across the nation.

Solution

After assessing Clean Energy’s power needs and goals, NextEra Energy Services recommended a 5-year RenewableLink contract for their power usage nationwide. This contract simplifies renewable energy purchasing options in the form of a traditional energy supply contract and avoids the need for onsite installation or significant capital investment.

Clean Energy’s fueling stations use electricity to compress renewable natural gas, an ultra-low carbon vehicle fuel that powers tens of thousands of sanitation trucks, city buses and heavy-duty trucks every day. Through the RenewableLink contract with NextEra Energy Services, the power used by these stations will now be offset by renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

In addition to supplying power to several of the company’s facilities, RenewableLink provides the opportunity for Clean Energy to retire renewable energy credits (RECs) for 100% of the stations’ aggregate annual electricity consumption, reducing the company’s Scope 2 emissions nationwide.

Result

Over the next 5 years, the RenewableLink contract will help supply roughly 75,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of power to 49 Clean Energy fueling stations across eight states and 20 electric distribution companies. By allowing Clean Energy to retire RECs for its stations nationwide, this agreement will help the company reduce its carbon emissions by ~60,750 MT or the equivalent of taking 13,135 cars off the road for one year.

RenewableLink will also help lower the company’s weighted cost of electricity supply by $10/MWh, compared to previous supply costs from various utilities and third-party suppliers². In addition to being easy to implement, this solution requires no onsite installations or capital investment.

Should the company’s energy goals or needs evolve, it will have the flexibility to implement additional renewable technologies and strategies when needed.