Biogas Sets Sail: CMA CGM Backs U.S. Clean Fuel Push

CMA CGM and Vanguard Renewables unite to turn U.S. biogas into global clean fuel

14 Oct 2025

A new partnership between Vanguard Renewables and the global shipping company CMA CGM is linking America’s biogas industry with the international maritime sector. Announced on August 20, 2025, the agreement connects Vanguard’s renewable natural gas projects to CMA CGM’s growing fleet of alternative-fuel vessels, an initiative industry analysts say could accelerate the use of low-carbon fuels across global trade.

Vanguard Renewables converts farm and food waste into renewable natural gas, or RNG, by capturing methane that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. The resulting gas can be refined into bio-liquefied natural gas (bio-LNG), a marine fuel capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to roughly 80 percent compared with traditional fuels, depending on the feedstock and production method.

Under the agreement, CMA CGM will secure a long-term RNG supply and make an equity investment through its PULSE fund, which focuses on clean energy innovation. The move provides the French shipping company with greater fuel security while supporting Vanguard’s plans to expand biogas capacity across the United States.

“The alliance connects two vital industries, agriculture and international transport, around a shared mission: accelerating the transition to renewable energy,” said Neil Smith, chief executive of Vanguard Renewables. Analysts said the partnership demonstrates how collaboration across sectors can help scale technologies once seen as niche.

Industry observers view the deal as part of a broader shift in the energy landscape. Renewable natural gas, once confined to domestic utilities and trucking fleets, is emerging as a globally traded commodity. Shipping, aviation, and logistics companies are increasingly investing directly in RNG producers to meet tightening emissions standards.

Challenges remain, including the limited availability of organic feedstock and evolving certification systems for international trade. Yet experts note that growing corporate investment and technological advances are making renewable fuels more viable at scale.

The partnership between Vanguard and CMA CGM signals how traditional industries are adapting to a lower-carbon economy. By linking American biogas production to global shipping routes, it highlights the potential for clean energy to serve as both a climate strategy and a driver of industrial transformation.