Fueling the Future with Renewable Natural Gas in Canada

Renewable energy in Canada accounts for about 17% of our total energy supply and 65% of our electricity production. Hydroelectricity makes up the majority of renewable energy produced in the country, however, wind power, solar power, tidal power and bio-energy are also an important part of the mix. One technology that is currently underutilized is Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). Canada has an opportunity to maximize one of our greatest energy assets – the natural gas pipeline system – by investing in RNG projects.

RNG is not a new technology. It has been used extensively around the world for many years, especially in places where conventional natural gas is more expensive like Europe and Asia. In Canada, several RNG facilities are already operating or being developed including in Quebec, British Columbia, and Toronto.

Fueling the Future

RNG is a low-carbon fuel that is produced by capturing, cleaning, and upgrading biogas from landfills, organic waste, farms or wastewater treatment plants. It is distributed through the existing natural gas lines to customers.

Here is a high-level look at how RNG works:

 

Renewable Natural Gas

Energy in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia relies on a mix of energy sources, including high-emitting coal for electricity generation and oil, to keep residents warm. We need to start thinking outside the box for ways that we can reduce our

carbon footprint and RNG can help.

Halifax, Nova Scotia was the first large municipality in Canada to implement a green bin program for organic waste back in 1998. The city has seen incredible success with the adoption of composting and recycling programs, including a very high separation rate for green bin organics. RNG presents another exciting opportunity to be leaders in creating a greener city.

RNG Potential

Taking advantage of RNG in Halifax could potentially heat over 5,500 homes or fuel over 400 transit buses with renewable energy.

Home heating and hot water is typically the biggest source of household GHG emissions. Heating accounts for approximately 80% of the energy used in a home and almost all heating fuels – electricity, heat pumps, fuel oil, propane, and natural gas – emit GHGs. Switching to RNG could significantly reduce a household’s carbon footprint.

Not only is RNG a green solution for energy consumption but it can also be produced at a competitive or lower cost compared to other renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Heritage Gas is actively working to support the development of RNG projects in Nova Scotia.

Finding ways to capture and reduce waste is a principle directly out of a Smart Energy Community playbook. Being smarter about not only how we produce our energy, but also how we use it, is an important lesson that will help Canada smoothly progress through the energy transformation now currently underway.

RNG Barriers

The development of RNG resources are not without their challenges. Under the right circumstances RNG can be a very cost effective clean energy source, however, significant planning and logistics must be taken into account to achieve this. Barriers to development include access to pipeline infrastructure, access to feedstocks to produce biogas, and the high capital investment required to produce RNG..

In 2017, Natural Resources Canada recommended an industry target of 10% RNG-blended natural gas in the pipeline distribution system in Canada by 2030. Government leadership to support the development of RNG projects can help to align the moving parts necessary to unleash the potential of RNG in Nova Scotia, as well as Canada wide.

RNG projects are an innovative way to help Canada transition to a low country while also maximizing the waste we all produce. If you are interested in learning more about low emissions energy systems, check out Canada’s Energy Transformation Report.

 

Originally posted by Quest Canada.

To read more from Quest Canada, click HERE

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

digital freight invoicing
ODeX Is Leading the Charge in Digital Freight Invoicing
April 24, 2025

Global shipping continues to grapple with fragmented billing processes, often delaying cargo movement. According to McKinsey, adopting an electronic bill of lading could save $6.5 billion in direct costs and enable $40 billion in global trade. As vessels carry goods for thousands of shippers per voyage, the administrative burden of managing and reconciling invoices…

Read More
Human Intelligence Movement
Just Thinking… about Reimagining Education for the AI Era with the Human Intelligence Movement
April 24, 2025

As artificial intelligence reshapes education, work, and daily life, educators are grappling with how to prepare students for a future where human skills—not just knowledge—will be paramount. In fact, a growing number of reports highlight that employers increasingly value collaboration, communication, and emotional intelligence over memorized content. Amid this transformation, the Human Intelligence Movement…

Read More
The Value of a Restoration Team with Healthcare Experience
The Value of a Restoration Team with Healthcare Experience
April 24, 2025

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis welcomes Jason McClaren, Director of Facilities Operations at Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals, to discuss the critical advantage of partnering with a restoration team experienced in healthcare. A former firefighter and military veteran, Jason has spent the last decade managing safety, risk, and emergency preparedness…

Read More
Science of reading
Educators Must Combine 1:1 Tutoring with the Science of Reading to Close the Reading Gap
April 23, 2025

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system faced a seismic shift. Learning loss, especially in foundational literacy, was a national crisis. In 2024, only 31% of fourth graders in the U.S. were reading proficiently, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Meanwhile, tutoring exploded as a top strategy to recover…

Read More