Discover how 3 Rivers Energy Partners fuels America’s renewable energy transition
With the goal of empowering organizations to create a sustainable future, 3 Rivers Energy Partners (3 Rivers) transforms organic waste streams into renewable energy and fertilizer. By building, owning, and operating its own facilities, the company facilitates its partners’ transition to more sustainable practices, thus ensuring a more renewable and sustainable future for them and the communities they serve. Last year, John Rivers, Co-Founder and CEO, discussed 3 Rivers’ major projects with Jack Daniels and Jim Beam, both of which are still ongoing.
“When we last spoke, these projects were still under construction. We are pleased to announce that the Jim Beam project is now operational and actively producing
gas. Similarly, we began gas production at the Jack Daniels facility over a month ago. Thus, we are in a much different spot than we were during our last conversation with New Energy Today, which is pretty exciting,” John reveals.
Demand for projects focused on renewable natural gas and waste energy solutions is rapidly growing as the world prioritizes carbon reduction. However, there are other environmental issues linked to the renewable energy sector that 3 Rivers is equally committed to addressing, as John highlights. “The fact of the matter is that renewable energy alone is not sufficient to solve all environmental problems, so we tackle many other challenges. For years, the stillage or waste product from our processes has been used as animal feed in various industrial facilities. In the beginning, this seemed like a great idea, but after over ten years of regular use, it has become evident that this feed by itself is not a suitable source of food for animals. Indeed, it has led to health issues, including bone density loss and higher mortality rates. While it might be good in moderation, the widespread availability of this free feed led livestock farmers to rely on it heavily, turning it from a supplement into a main food source. At present, government environmental agencies are working to shift everyone away from this practice.
“Beyond the negative effects on animal health, excessive use of this feed, or waste product, has resulted in contaminated watersheds, particularly in areas where a lot of livestock are concentrated near streams or rivers. Our goal is to solve that pollution problem. In the cases of Jim Beam and Jack Daniels, managing and getting rid of this waste product was costing them money. We were able to not only reduce their costs but also decrease their energy load by eliminating the need to dry this material, a process that requires significant amounts of natural gas to evaporate the water. At the Jack Daniels facility, we produce a million dekatherms of gas, while also displacing another million dekatherms. Therefore, we effectively double the benefit: rather than using two million cubic feet of natural gas a day to dry the waste product, that gas is now available for residents and everyone else. By injecting one million to two million cubic feet of gas a day into the pipeline, we are addressing both the pollution issue and the natural gas shortage in the best way we can, thereby correcting an issue for energy security in the US,” he continues.
Collaboration is key
In line with this commitment to fostering a cleaner environment and preventing waste, 3 Rivers is engaged in several other projects aimed at limiting the impact of agricultural operations on bodies of water across the US. “Presently, we are working on projects in the sugar cane sector. In the US, we face a serious environmental issue related to oceanic red tides, a harmful phenomenon caused by algal blooms that take much needed oxygen out of the water, killing fish and shellfish. When these blooms occur just offshore, people cannot go to the beach as they can cause health issues. Red tides arise from two primary factors: rising water temperatures and phosphates from agriculture, some of which are from agricultural practices associated with sugarcane crops, with phosphate getting into the ocean. It is important to note that farmers are not at fault; this problem has developed over time and continues to escalate.
“In our gas digestion process, we produce renewable natural gas and capture the nutrients that would typically wash out into the ocean. We can separate, crystallize, and dry these phosphates, which are in high demand as fertilizers in other parts of the country where they are rather expensive. The naturally occurring red tides primarily affect Florida and, to a lesser extent, Louisiana. To prevent this issue, we are currently working on a solution for sugar cane fields in Louisiana, and we aim to do the same thing in Florida, because we believe that we could interrupt the flow of phosphates into the ocean.
“While everybody points fingers at the oil and gas industry for its impact on the environment, many people do not realize that most environmental work and advancements taking place in the world are often driven by professionals coming from that sector. Within our team, we have scientists and engineers who have worked with us side by side for over 25 years across various companies in the oil fields. Moreover, our team includes many people from the oil industry, and the knowledge we have gained in that sector has made us especially effective in transitioning to this new renewable energy industry,” he adds.
Scaling up for maximum impact
Making a tangible, positive impact on the environment is crucial for the company. To achieve this, 3 Rivers takes a comprehensive approach that extends beyond delivering individual projects for specific clients. The firm is dedicated to scaling up these initiatives to maximize their overall impact. “We are in talks with nearly every large-scale beverage and food supplier, and as these projects are substantial, they typically take between 18 months to two years to complete. Currently, the average size of our projects ranges from $100 million to $200 million in investment. So far, we are the only company actively engaged in this space, as we hold a significant amount of proprietary knowledge that would make it extremely difficult for others to enter the market. With our ample resources, we can undertake as many projects as we choose, so our ability to scale projects is not limited by financial means but rather familiarity with the concept,” John concludes.
3 Rivers’ holistic approach to sustainable waste management positions it as a leading force in the industry, enabling its clients to operate in an eco-friendly manner while tackling wider environmental issues.