Western Canada is continuing to build out its renewable natural gas (RNG) market and lower emissions with a new deal to inject biogas into a pipeline system in British Columbia (BC).
EverGen Infrastructure Corp. has signed a 20-year offtake agreement with FortisBC Energy Inc. for the delivery of RNG in BC. FortisBC agreed to purchase up to 160,000 GJ/year of biogas from EverGen subsidiary Fraser Valley Biogas Ltd. (FVB).
FVB is the first RNG production project in Western Canada. It also is the first project to inject RNG into the FortisBC network, which spans 50,000 kilometers (31,070 miles) in BC. FVB combines anaerobic digestion and biogas upgrading to produce RNG by converting agricultural waste from local dairy farms.
“The execution of this agreement has further solidified EverGen’s long-standing relationship with FortisBC,” said EverGen CEO Mischa Zajtmann.
“By continuing to increase our RNG supply, we are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supporting our vision to have around 75% of the gas in our system be renewable and low carbon by 2050,” said FortisBC’s David Bennett, who directs the renewable gas and low carbon fuels unit.
EverGen said it also secured a long-term feedstock supply agreement with a waste disposal consolidator in the region. The feedstock represents “greater than 50% of the off-farm waste required to achieve nameplate capacity,” the company said.
Headquartered on Canada’s west coast, EverGen acquires, develops, builds, owns and operates a portfolio of RNG and related infrastructure projects.
According to the Canadian Gas Association, Canada’s natural gas utilities have set an “aspirational target” of 5% RNG blended into natural gas streams by 2025 and 10% by 2030. Canada’s government has set a national goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Calgary-based Enbridge Gas Inc., which provides gas services to about 15 million people in Ontario and Quebec and is a major North American natural gas player, is involved in seven Canadian RNG projects under construction or in-service. It also has at least 50 more projects in various stages of development.
Texas-based RNG producer Archaea Energy Inc. is also involved in the Canadian biogas market, including with FortisBC in British Columbia.
