Using RNG to ease emissions

Re: Hydro hijinks come to natural gas, Brady Yauch, June 7

Brady Yauch of the Consumer Policy Institute describes renewable natural gas (RNG) as an expensive technology that will cost consumers and do little to reduce carbon emissions. To the contrary, RNG is a proven, economical, low-carbon technology with significant environmental benefits.

RNG is not new to Canada. RNG is derived from biogas, and biogas technology has existed since the 1950s. There are over 40 biogas facilities in Ontario alone. The largest naturalgas utility in British Columbia has had a voluntary RNG program since 2011, and the Quebec utility has substantial interest in RNG. With nearly 40 per cent of the country’s population living in Ontario, it’s an opportunity also knocking on Ontario’s door.

Ontario’s methane emissions, a pollutant with global warming potential 28 times worse than CO2, equated to 15 Mt of CO2 in 2014 released primarily from waste management and agriculture. Producing RNG from biogas is the most efficient way to capture potent methane emissions for energy use.

Developing renewable energy for existing pipeline infrastructure offers Ontario a competitive advantage when seeking low-cost, lowcarbon energy solutions. RNG can be blended with natural gas without significantly raising the price. Analysis by Clean Energy Canada and Navius for the Clean Fuel Standard shows that a five-per-cent RNG blend would have a carbon abatement cost of $171/tonne CO2e, and result in a small household cost increase of approximately $2 more a month.

Infrastructure that produces RNG provides a way of beneficially managing the organic waste produced by Ontario residents and businesses everyday. Developing RNG infrastructure would create sustainable jobs across the province. Purchasing RNG would not make gas prices exorbitant. RNG would help solve a large part of our waste problem and support local economies. Jennifer Green, Executive Director, Canadian Biogas Association, Ottawa