As the renewable energy industry continues its search for scalable, sustainable solutions, one emerging frontier is front and center. Or should we say at the bottom of the waste bin?
Across homes, cities, and industries, countless tons of materials reach the end of their useful lives and are relegated to landfills or incinerators. Recycling remains a critical part of circular economy strategies, but even beyond recycling lies an untapped energy stream. What we typically consider “residential waste,” or more broadly, municipal solid waste (MSW), carries massive potential.
Transforming this low-value material into a resource is becoming one of the most dynamic areas of renewable innovation. New technologies are pushing the boundaries of what can be recovered from waste. This comes not just in terms of materials, but also in the form of usable energy and carbon-derived fuels.
This blog explores two such pathways that illustrate how what was once lost carbon can be redirected into a renewable future: waste-to-methanol and landfill gas upgrading.
In the Nordics, Equinor and Mana have announced plans to develop the region’s first large-scale waste-to-methanol facility at Equinor’s Mongstad refinery. Supported by process engineering specialist NEXTCHEM, the partners aim to transform around 550,000 tons of non-recyclable waste per year into approximately 270,000 tons of methanol. Furthermore, the process will capture and permanently store 400,000 tons of CO₂.
The methanol produced will initially target the marine fuel market, helping decarbonize one of the hardest-to-abate sectors. Over time, the project could also support methanol-to-jet processes for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Though still in early development, NEXTCHEM is set to deliver a detailed feasibility study by spring 2026. The study will assess the project’s technical design, process integration, and economic viability.
The study will examine each stage of the conversion process from waste gasification to syngas purification and methanol synthesis. The goal is to ensure the system can operate efficiently and at scale.
The process begins with residual waste collection from municipal and industrial sources. After removing metals, oversized materials, and other contaminants, the remaining waste is shredded and dried to form a uniform feedstock for gasification.
During gasification, carbon-based components are converted into synthesis gas (syngas)—a blend of hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
This gas mixture then undergoes an intensive clean-up stage where sulphur compounds, particulates, and trace metals are removed to protect catalysts and maintain reaction efficiency. Excess CO₂ is separated and earmarked for carbon capture and storage (CCS), supporting the project’s emissions-reduction target of 400,000 tons per year.
Once purified, the syngas enters a catalytic reactor to form methanol. Achieving the right hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio is crucial for high yield.
To optimize this, the project could integrate electrolysers to supply green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. This critical step boosts methanol output without requiring additional waste feedstock.
The approach exemplifies the Nordics’ advantage. Abundant renewable hydropower enables the coupling of waste-to-fuel and power-to-fuel systems in a cost-effective and low-carbon manner.
Globally, the waste-to-methanol concept is gaining momentum, particularly in China. Developers there have also used agricultural residues as feedstock.
Agricultural waste tends to be more homogeneous and easier to gasify, producing more stable syngas and simplifying purification. In contrast, residual municipal waste poses greater technical challenges due to its heterogeneous composition. But it also represents a vast, consistent, and underutilized energy source.
Projects like the one at Mongstad highlight the growing confidence that these technical barriers can be overcome. The initiative will work to position waste-to-methanol as a cornerstone of circular carbon strategies.
While waste-to-methanol tackles waste before it reaches the landfill, another critical innovation focuses on what’s already there.
Greenlane Renewables has filed a patent for its Linear Nitrogen Rejection Unit (NRU), a new component of its Cascade LF landfill gas upgrading platform. The system upgrades raw landfill gas, a byproduct of organic waste decomposition, into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas (RNG). The process also improves methane recovery and reduces overall costs.
Landfill gas forms naturally as microbes break down organic matter in municipal solid waste. This process produces a mix of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Collection systems use wells and a network of pipes installed throughout the landfill, drawing gas under vacuum to a central processing unit. During this stage, nitrogen and oxygen often enter the mix as ambient air is pulled in.
The first stage of treatment removes hydrogen sulfide, siloxanes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can damage equipment or poison catalysts. The gas then enters a CO₂ separation stage. Here, membranes selectively extract carbon dioxide and concentrate the methane stream.
CO₂ typically accounts for up to half of raw landfill gas. Accordingly, it must be removed to meet quality specifications.
Following CO₂ removal, the challenge shifts to eliminating nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen, while inert, can dilute the gas stream and reduce heating value. Oxygen, by contrast, is a serious safety hazard if it reaches high concentrations in pipelines.
Conventional nitrogen rejection units rely on multiple adsorption beds and complex recycling systems. Although these solutions work, they are costly and energy-intensive.
Greenlane’s Linear NRU simplifies this process by employing a single linear flow system that reduces both recycling and compression stages. The result:
The system yields a compelling combination for landfill operators aiming to turn waste emissions into marketable energy.
The commercial implications are significant. Renewable natural gas derived from landfill methane can be injected into natural gas grids or used directly as vehicle fuel.
In the United States, RNG qualifies for D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), the highest-value category under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This makes landfill gas projects financially attractive while displacing fossil natural gas with a renewable counterpart.
Both pathways—waste-to-methanol and landfill gas-to-RNG—show how technological ingenuity can turn society’s refuse into renewable assets. Each solution targets a different point in the waste lifecycle. One intercepts waste before disposal, and the other redeems emissions from what’s already buried.
Together, they demonstrate a crucial truth: waste is not an endpoint, but a resource stream waiting to be unlocked. As circular carbon technologies mature, the distinction between waste management and energy production will blur. These elements help to bring us closer to a future where even our garbage contributes to the global renewable energy mix.
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