Canadian biogas group sees greater potential

The Canadian Biogas Association (CBA) said March 22 Canada could generate five times more greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reductions using biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) – if the right government policies are put in place.

Biogas and RNG currently contribute about 8mn mt/yr of reductions by making clean energy out of landfill, agricultural and other organic waste, and under existing federal and provincial policies, that number will grow only by 2.5mn mt by 2030.

New policies, however, could deliver 26.7mn mt of new reductions by 2030, making the biogas and RNG industries “instrumental” in Canada reaching its 2030 climate targets.

“The 26.7mn mt of reductions would achieve more than one-half of Canada’s 2030 methane pledge, while also helping close the 66mn-mt gap to Canada’s overall 2030 target that was calculated by the environment commissioner last year,” the CBA said, citing new modeling by Navius Research.

And biogas and RNG could contribute another 40mn mt of reductions by 2050, but only if the federal government borrows two policies already proving successful at provincial levels: mandated RNG levels in gas distribution systems, which are in place in BC and Quebec, and carbon offsets which incentivise landfills and farms to collect and utilise methane, which are being used in Alberta and Quebec.

“Right now, Canada has 279 biogas and RNG producers doing good work destroying greenhouse gas emissions,” CBA executive director Jennifer Green said. “We now have a clear understanding of how to multiply that number, but it will take government leadership.”