Alternative Energy and Conservation Pioneer Roeslein Renewables Earns International Renewable Energy Certification

Associated Press

01-03-2025

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Roeslein Renewables, a leader in alternative energy and conservation, has been awarded ISCC PLUS and ISCC EU certifications for biomass feedstocks used in renewable natural gas (RNG) production. This is the first ISCC certification for biomass-based crop residues, including cover crops, processed for clean-burning RNG.
The certification represents a critical step in expanding market access for U.S.-produced RNG in fast-growing international renewable energy markets. It also opens new revenue opportunities and supports rural and agricultural economies.
'With agricultural trade deficits likely to reach record highs in 2025, unlocking new export markets for U.S.-produced biofuels including renewable natural gas can be a critical part of the solution. This is consistent with President Trump's executive orders on unleashing American energy production.' said Bryan Sievers, Director of Government Relations for Roeslein Renewables.
This milestone supports Roeslein Renewables' vision for the transformational growth of the U.S. RNG industry. Research indicates that leveraging a distributed production and feedstock model—incorporating agricultural residues, reconstructed prairie on marginal land, and cover crops on prime farmland—could produce up to 17% of U.S. natural gas. The ISCC certification strengthens Roeslein Renewables' role in advancing agricultural-based renewable energy while setting industry standards for sustainability.
Beyond Biogas: Environmental and Agricultural Benefits
'Since founding Roeslein Renewables, our overarching goal has been to provide farmers an alternative way to use land, especially highly erodible acres, in ways that will benefit the environment, wildlife, and their own livelihood. We will show how farmers and landowners can do well for themselves while also providing ecological services and wildlife benefits,' said Rudi Roeslein, founder and executive chairman of Roeslein Renewables. 'This first-of-its-kind project at Horizon II, Sievers Family Farms, demonstrates the financial viability of using winter-hardy cover crops and perennial prairie biomass to produce renewable energy while delivering significant ecological benefits.'
Mr. Roeslein added that the project will generate co-benefits by significantly increasing the diversity of plants needed by pollinators, the iconic monarch butterfly, and birds. Additionally, it will help reduce the flow of nutrients into streams and rivers, soil erosion, and flooding by promoting water infiltration with the deep roots of prairie plants.
Research from Iowa State University's STRIPS project shows that converting just 10% of a corn or soybean field into native prairie strips can reduce soil loss by 95%, phosphorus loss by 77%, and nitrogen loss by 70%. The ISCC certification is an essential step in Roeslein Renewables' goal of restoring 30 million acres of prairie over the next 30 years.
USDA-Supported Horizon II Grant
The United States Department of Agriculture has supported Roeslein Renewables' efforts through its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program. The company leads a five-year, $80 million pilot project in Iowa and Missouri, collaborating with 14 public and private entities to create markets for corn, soybeans, and livestock producers through renewable natural gas production.
'The goal of this grant project was to develop and expand these markets,' said Grant Director Will Higgins. 'We're a year and a half in, and I am incredibly proud of our team. With this certification, we can now access a global market for energy generated from biomass produced by Midwestern farmers through conservation practices. That's monumental. Our focus now shifts to expanding and optimizing the process for continued implementation beyond the grant's conclusion.'
The pilot project seeks to revamp the agricultural value chain by integrating RNG, biofertilizer production, and ecosystem service outcomes from the co-digestion of herbaceous feedstocks and manure.
For more information, contact Bryan Sievers, Director of Government Relations, at [email protected].
About Roeslein Renewables
Roeslein Renewables is a leader in alternative energy and conservation solutions, dedicated to transforming waste into valuable resources while fostering sustainable development in rural and agricultural communities.
About ISCC
The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) ensures sustainable, traceable, and deforestation-free supply chains. Its certification covers agricultural and forest biomass, biogenic waste and residues, non-biological renewable materials, and recycled carbon-based materials. ISCC adheres to strict ecological and social requirements, including greenhouse gas emission reductions and supply chain traceability.