How PlanET Biogas powers North America’s RNG growth through innovation, partnership, and engineering excellence
Driven by a passion for renewable energy and augmented by a stellar global reputation, PlanET Biogas (PlanET) is a true pioneer in climate protection. Since its inception, the organization has been at the forefront of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) technology solutions that include process design and detailed engineering to deliver comprehensive end-to-end integrated solutions for biogas plants.
PlanET’s technology is world-renowned for supporting highly efficient biogas yields with minimal operating costs. The company’s unique modular design approach allows for a wide array of feeding options and provides clients with the tools needed to adapt to an ever-changing feedstock environment – this has been instrumental in the company’s upwards growth trajectory. Today, PlanET has provided technology in more than 870 digester systems and over 150 RNG plants in operations worldwide – a testament to its sustained innovation, unparalleled expertise, and trusted leadership position in this ever-evolving market. With offices in Germany, France, Italy, India, the US, Canada, and Brazil, the company’s impact continues to reach new heights, firmly positioning it as an integral pillar in the global energy transition.
Patrick Cluckey, Vice President of North American Operations, was PlanET’s very first US-based employee, taking the role by the reins right at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He was added to the North American leadership team to grow the organization’s services and maintenance side of the business, whilst placing an additional focus on the execution of project work for their clients. Together, the PlanET leadership team has strengthened its North American footprint, expanded its project pipeline, and built a resilient, high-performing team, solidifying the company’s position as a trusted partner in AD and RNG solutions and services and maintenance across the region. New Energy Today sits down with Patrick to learn more about PlanET’s North American operations and priorities for the future.
“One of the aspects that differentiates PlanET from some of our competitors in the market is that we don’t just sell technology to clients, but invest in long-term partnerships,” he begins. “We have a wide variety of different client bases from small-scale farm operations all the way to large-scale utility clients, so we’ve had to adapt to ensure that we can provide the highest levels of service no matter what. We have multiple inventory stocking locations in Buffalo, New York; Denver, Colorado; and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, which gives us a great geographical footprint to be able to service our clients throughout North America. We’ve also established a 24-hour hotline support team, developed to address the demand of our larger-scale clients who have come to expect that level of service. It’s shown great success and has allowed us to maintain above 97 percent uptime for our clients.”
This strong operational backbone and commitment to responsive, high-performance service has positioned PlanET as a trusted partner for complex, large-scale renewable energy developments across North America, building further on its existing legacy across the ocean. The company plays a pivotal role in landmark projects that advance North America’s organics recycling and RNG infrastructure, one of which Patrick is excited to share.
“PlanET is currently working with the Convertus Group to supply AD technology for the state-of-the-art Convertus York Biofuels facility scheduled to open in East Gwillimbury, Ontario, in 2027,” he reveals. “The facility will process pre and post-consumer food waste into biogas, which will then be upgraded to RNG. The project officially broke ground in late 2024 and, as a key technology partner, PlanET is providing four anaerobic digesters, five pre-storage tanks, a heat recovery system with heat pumps, digestate screening, pasteurization systems, and pumping skids.”
Maximizing efficiency
As projects like the Convertus York Biofuels Facility demonstrate PlanET’s ability to deliver cutting-edge infrastructure at scale, the company’s engineering excellence extends further into the optimization of plant performance. Supporting every installation with data-driven insights and technical expertise, PlanET continues to invest in advanced capabilities that ensure long-term efficiency and maximum biogas output for its clients.
“Another area where we’ve enhanced our operational efficiency is with our new biological lab in Denver. We focus on analyzing biological performance inside the digester,” Patrick elaborates. “We test numerous different parameters for clients, looking at what inert solids are entering the digester and how we can maintain digester health to get the highest possible biogas yields.”
By combining hands-on biological analysis with a forward-thinking mindset, PlanET ensures that operational excellence is continuously refined through both science and technology – two pillars that govern the company’s broader innovation strategy as it continues to evolve and scale.
“PlanET prides itself on its passion for innovation. On a global level, we’re looking at how we can use AI in our business processes, whether it’s within our ERP implementation or to enhance the efficiency of our day-to-day operational tasks,” Patrick says. “In 2024, PlanET was awarded the EnergyDecentral Gold Medal of Innovation for the AI camera that we designed and produced. We use the camera to get a live view inside the digesters and this achievement marked a true milestone in the automation of biogas plants.”
This commitment to technological advancement has also opened the door to new avenues of growth and diversification. By applying its engineering expertise and systems integration know-how beyond the digester itself, PlanET is strategically expanding its service portfolio to deliver greater value across and beyond the renewable energy sector.
“One of the areas that we’ve diversified into is panel fabrication services. We’re now providing end-to-end electrical control panel solutions – everything from concept engineering and fabrication to commissioning,” Patrick explains. “We’ve engineered and built panels for client projects across North America for many years, but now we are ready to leverage our expertise and extend our services to any industry that needs electrical and control panels services.”
Continued innovation
As PlanET continues to scale its North American presence, its strategy remains clear: to advance the future of RNG with relentless innovation and proven engineering excellence. From landmark RNG facilities and advanced biological analysis to AI-powered automation and diversified electrical solutions, PlanET continues to be a trusted leader in the biogas industry.
“The North American biogas market is facing some headwinds, so we want to make sure that we capture as much of the market in new project development as we can. Our service and maintenance business continues to be a strategic focus for us. This year, we’re really looking to grow this side of the business and support the market with our services, operations, and maintenance teams, as well as grow our control panel fabrication and design operations,” Patrick details.
“Looking into the future, PlanET will continue to be a global innovator in biogas as we continue to expand into new markets around the world,” Patrick affirms, concluding our conversation. “When I explain why PlanET does what it does every day, I look to our corporate values that remind us that we believe that the emergence and adoption of new technology is part of the solution to the hardest problem we’ve ever faced: to protect and preserve our environment while sustainably providing access to a high quality of life. PlanET is here because our actions help to make the sky a little bluer and the grass a little greener.”