RNG Girls

How Raft Energy Is Transforming Biogas Operations

This week on RNG Girls, Lisa Kitt and Skye Austin are joined by the team at RAFT Energy: Ben Pruke, CEO & Co-Founder, and Alex Van Klaveren, Co-Founder & CRO. This episode takes the conversation global, exploring what’s happening across the UK and European biogas markets, where many “waste to energy” standards were built and refined, and what those markets can teach the US as RNG continues to scale. Ben and Alex break down what operators are prioritising right now, why “volatile” feedstocks can quietly undermine digester performance, and how a growing focus on biology, optimisation, and real-time monitoring is changing day-to-day decision making on site. It’s a practical conversation for anyone thinking about plant stability, performance uplift, and how the next wave of RNG efficiency will be driven, not just by new builds, but by getting more out of the assets already in the ground. Key takeaways 🔹 How the UK/European biogas markets compare to the US — and what the US can learn from past challenges 🔹 What operators actually prioritise today: better ROI, lower costs, and smarter tech adoption 🔹 Why volatile feedstocks (especially food waste) can destabilise biology and reduce performance 🔹 How real-time monitoring can act as an early-warning system before costly failures and shutdowns 🔹 Why biology-led optimisation is becoming a major lever for efficiency, safety, and output Host: Lisa Kitt Founder, RNG Girls | Managing Director, Dahlia Recruitment LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kitt-0ab28521/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kitt-0ab28521/] Co-host: Skye Austin Sales Director (RNG & Compression), Stark Tech | Board Member, American Biogas Council LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-austin-506b1075/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-austin-506b1075/] Guests: Ben Pruke CEO & Co-Founder, RAFT Energy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-pluke-6148b899/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-pluke-6148b899/] Alex Van Klaveren Co-Founder & CRO, RAFT Energy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexvanklav/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexvanklav/] RNG Girls is a podcast on the people, projects, and politics of Renewable Natural Gas. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations from across the RNG industry. #RNG #Biogas #RenewableNaturalGas #EnergyTransition #WasteToEnergy #AnaerobicDigestion #Biomethane #CleanEnergy #Decarbonization #MethaneReduction #CircularEconomy #SustainableEnergy #EnergySecurity #RealTimeMonitoring #BiogasAmericas

Why Biogas, Why Now; Inside the Momentum and Engagement with Bernie Sheff

In the very first episode of RNG Girls, Lisa Kitt and Skye Austin are joined by Bernie Sheff, Chair of the American Biogas Council and a long-standing leader in the biogas industry. Bernie reflects on how his journey into biogas began with an environmental justice issue in Michigan and how that early experience shaped a career dedicated to turning waste into energy, improving communities, and helping build the industry from the ground up. The conversation explores why this current moment feels so important for biogas, the global opportunity emerging around maritime fuel and low-CI energy, and why BIOGAS AMERICAS matters more than ever in a market that is being tested. Bernie also shares what makes the biogas sector different: its grit, its openness, and the strength of the community behind it. This first episode sets the tone for RNG Girls:  conversations about the people, projects, and momentum shaping the future of biogas and renewable natural gas. Key takeaways 🔹 How Bernie’s first digester project solved a real environmental justice problem and changed the course of his career 🔹 Why the maritime opportunity is creating major momentum for the biogas industry globally 🔹 Why biogas is not just about energy, but also fertilizer, resilience, and food security 🔹 What makes BIOGAS AMERICAS such an important event for operators, developers, policymakers, and newcomers 🔹 Why American Biogas Council membership matters, especially in a challenging market 🔹 How community, collaboration, and “doers” continue to drive the industry forward BIOGAS AMERICAS If you’re heading to BIOGAS AMERICAS, come and find us at Stark Tech booth 213,  this will be the RNG Girls home base during the event. Official website: https://biogasamericas.com/ [https://biogasamericas.com/]   Host: Lisa Kitt Managing Director at Dahlia Recruitment LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kitt-0ab28521/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kitt-0ab28521/] Co-host: Skye Austin RNG Sales Director at Stark Tech Board Member of the American Biogas Council LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-austin-506b1075/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-austin-506b1075/]   Guest: Bernie Sheff Associate Technical Consultant at Burns and McDonnell Chairman of the American Biogas Council Partner at US Renewable Energy Development Capital Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardsheff/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardsheff/] Key chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Biogas and RNG 02:23 Bernie’s Journey into Biogas 06:45 Why Biogas Has Momentum Now 10:43 Why BIOGAS AMERICAS Matters 14:10 Policy, Advocacy and Industry Progress 19:44 What Makes BIOGAS AMERICAS Different 25:35 The Future of Biogas Growth 32:37 Community, Transparency and Engagement 43:00 ABC Membership Benefits and Industry Collaboration 48:10 Why You Should Attend BIOGAS AMERICAS   RNG Girls is a podcast about the people shaping the future of biogas and renewable natural gas. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations from across the RNG industry.