Name
Keynote Speaker: Michael Schuppenhauer, Ph.D. "Markets for Biogas"
Date & Time
Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Michael R. Schuppenhauer, Ph.D.
Description

Minnesota digester economics are increasingly influenced by global renewable natural gas (RNG) demand, which drives financial viability for anaerobic digesters. This presentation examines international market growth, including policy impacts from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and rising RNG demand in regions like Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe. While the U.S. transportation compressed natural gas market is almost saturated and growing only slowly, international opportunities are vast and require national investment in LNG infrastructure alongside regional efforts to maximize low-carbon biogas production through agricultural co-digestion and nutrient optimization. The RNG sector is transitioning from a niche industry to a scalable, differentiated energy solution, supported by global market indicators and strategies to reduce capital costs and address supply constraints.