Renewable Natural Gas for Cleaner Heavy-Duty Trucking with OPAL Fuels’ Co-CEOs Jonathan Maurer and Adam Comora
Adam Comora
John Maurer
OPAL FUELS captures harmful methane emissions on-site that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere, or required to be burned off. (Photo courtesy: OPAL Fuels)
OPAL Fuels: Turning Waste Into Energy
Adam Comora explains OPAL Fuels’ core mission: capturing methane emissions from decaying organic materials—like those found in landfills, dairies, and wastewater facilities—and converting that methane into a valuable energy source. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, and OPAL Fuels addresses this by turning what would otherwise be harmful emissions into renewable electricity and RNG.
“We’re converting harmful methane emissions at their source and using it to decarbonize industries,” says Comora. He also shares that UPS is one of their largest customers, with 6,000 trucks running on RNG and 50 fueling sites built for their fleet.
OPAL Fuels cleans and repurposes methane emissions at on-site processing facilities, transforming them into clean, safe, renewable natural gas fuel. (Photo courtesy: OPAL Fuels)
Decarbonizing Heavy-Duty Trucking
The transportation sector accounts for 30% of the U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions, with heavy-duty trucking being a significant contributor. Jonathan Maurer explains the growing role of RNG in replacing diesel in this sector. OPAL Fuels helps trucking fleets decarbonize while offering a cost-effective alternative to diesel.
“RNG currently powers about 1.5% of the diesel fuel pool in heavy-duty trucking,” says Maurer. “It’s a proven, cost-effective technology that’s working today.” This makes RNG an appealing option for trucking companies, especially those like UPS, which has made significant strides toward reducing its environmental footprint through RNG adoption.
Challenges and Opportunities in Feedstock Availability
Tucker asks a key question about feedstock availability for RNG production. With landfills, dairies, and wastewater facilities as primary sources of biogas, could supply meet growing demand?
Comora acknowledges that while RNG is not a silver bullet for the entire heavy-duty trucking sector, the industry could grow six to ten times its current size over the next decade. “We won’t serve the entire fleet, but we’ll make a significant dent,” he says. Moreover, Comora highlights the stability and predictability of the feedstock, particularly from landfills, where methane emissions continue to grow as waste decomposes.
Looking Ahead: Beyond RNG
Tucker also asked about the potential for OPAL Fuels to venture into other renewable fuels, such as hydrogen. While RNG remains the company’s core focus, Comora points out that RNG could be used as a feedstock to create renewable hydrogen.
Additionally, opportunities in sustainable aviation fuel and renewable methanol are emerging, with OPAL Fuels poised to explore these markets.However, as the two leaders stress, their immediate priority is the practical and proven application of RNG to decarbonize difficult-to-electrify industries, particularly heavy-duty trucking.
Policy Incentives: A Path Forward
Both co-CEOs agreed that federal policy could play a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of RNG. Comora’s would like to see government provide more incentives to capture fugitive methane emissions.
He believes the focus should be on practical, market-ready solutions like RNG and renewable electricity to address both the methane problem and decarbonization needs.
A Proven Technology for Today and Tomorrow
Maurer and Comora emphasize the success OPAL Fuels has already achieved, underscoring that RNG is not a theoretical solution—it’s a proven, scalable technology delivering environmental and economic benefits today.
“This is not a science experiment,” says Comora. “We’ve been doing this for decades, and it’s working.”