Aemetis Awarded Building Permits to Begin Construction on Next Phase of Dairy Biogas Digesters

Rhea-AI Summary

Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) has been issued building permits for the next phase of its dairy biogas digesters in California. This initiative is part of the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Digester Project, which will be linked to the Aemetis ethanol plant. By 2022, 15 additional digesters are expected to produce around 440,000 MMBtu of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) annually, significantly displacing petroleum-based fuels. The project aims to capture over 1.4 million MMBtu of dairy methane, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to approximately 5.2 million metric tonnes of CO₂ yearly.

Positive

• Issuance of building permits for five additional dairy biogas digesters, signaling progress in project development.
• Expected production of approximately 440,000 MMBtu of RNG annually, promoting renewable fuel usage.
• Significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing Aemetis' environmental sustainability image.
• $57 million in grant funding and support from government agencies aiding project execution.

Negative

• None.

Fifteen dairy digesters planned for completion in 2022  

CUPERTINO, CA, Sept. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable fuels company focused on negative carbon intensity products, announced today that it has been issued building permits by Stanislaus County in California to construct the next phase of dairy biogas digesters in the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Digester Project which will be connected via private pipeline to the Aemetis ethanol plant near Modesto.

“In addition to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) IS/MND permit for the 32-mile extension of the Aemetis Biogas pipeline, the project has received building permits to begin construction of the next phase of dairy biogas digesters,” said Andy Foster, President of the Aemetis Biogas subsidiary of Aemetis, Inc. “We have already built and currently operate two dairy biogas digesters, on-dairy gas upgrading and pressurization facilities, and a four-mile biogas pipeline connecting to our Keyes ethanol plant.  The centralized biogas cleanup and utility pipeline interconnection facilities at the Keyes plant are currently under construction for completion in Q4 2021, and we plan to complete the construction of 15 additional dairy biogas digesters during 2022.”

The next phase of five dairy biogas digesters are part of a network of lagoon digesters being built by Aemetis Biogas to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) for use as a transportation fuel.  The RNG produced by the first two dairy digesters has been approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) utilizing negative 426 (-426) carbon intensity biogas to displace petroleum based natural gas used at the Keyes ethanol production facility.

The next phase of five dairy digesters is planned for completion in Q1 2022, with an additional ten dairy digesters planned for completion by Q4 2022. When completed, the seventeen dairy digesters built and operated by Aemetis are expected to produce approximately 440,000 MMBtu per year of Renewable Natural Gas for use in trucks and buses to displace carbon based diesel fuel. 

The planned 52 dairies in the Aemetis biogas project are expected to capture more than 1.4 million MMBtu of dairy methane and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to an estimated 5.2 million metric tonnes of CO₂ each year, equal to removing the emissions from approximately 1.1 million cars.

The Aemetis Biogas dairy RNG project, energy efficiency upgrades to the Aemetis Keyes biofuels plant, and the Aemetis Renewable Jet/Diesel project include $57 million of grant funding and other support from the US Department of Agriculture, the US Forest Service, the California Energy Commission, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California State Treasurer’s Office, and Pacific Gas and Electric’s energy efficiency program.

About Aemetis

Aemetis has a mission to transform renewable energy with below zero carbon intensity transportation fuels. Aemetis has launched the Carbon Zero production process to decarbonize the transportation sector using today’s infrastructure.

Aemetis Carbon Zero products include zero carbon fuels that can “drop in” to be used in airplane, truck, and ship fleets. Aemetis low-carbon fuels have substantially reduced carbon intensity compared to standard petroleum fossil-based fuels across their lifecycle.

Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas, renewable fuel and biochemicals company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace petroleum-based products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Founded in 2006, Aemetis has completed Phase 1 and is expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis also owns and operates a 50 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India and Europe.  Aemetis is developing the Carbon Zero sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel fuel biorefineries in California to utilize distillers corn oil and other renewable oils to produce low carbon intensity renewable jet and diesel fuel using cellulosic hydrogen from waste orchard and forest wood, while pre-extracting cellulosic sugars from the waste wood to be processed into high value cellulosic ethanol at the Keyes plant. Aemetis holds a portfolio of patents and exclusive technology licenses to produce renewable fuels and biochemicals.  For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements relating to the development and construction of the biogas lagoon digesters, biogas cleanup and compression unit, construction and operation of the biogas pipeline, our compliance with governmental programs, and our ability to access markets and funding to execute our business plan.  Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties.  Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in our subsequent filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

External Investor Relations
Contact:
Kirin Smith
PCG Advisory Group
(646) 863-6519
ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

Company Investor Relations/
Media Contact:
Todd Waltz
(408) 213-0940
investors@aemetis.com

FAQ

What is Aemetis planning in 2022 for its biogas project?

Aemetis plans to complete the construction of 15 dairy biogas digesters in 2022 as part of its biogas project.

How much Renewable Natural Gas will Aemetis produce annually?

Aemetis expects to produce approximately 440,000 MMBtu of Renewable Natural Gas annually from its digesters.

What is the environmental impact of Aemetis' biogas project?

The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing over 1.4 million MMBtu of dairy methane, equating to around 5.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 annually.

What funding support has Aemetis received for its projects?

Aemetis has secured $57 million in grant funding and support from various US and California government agencies.

Where will the new dairy biogas digesters be located?

The new digesters will be constructed in Stanislaus County, California, and will connect to the Aemetis ethanol plant.