Investing in the production of renewable natural gas (RNG) from forest industry residue can diversify Canada’s energy mix, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve industrial efficiency and create new economic opportunities for local companies and good middle-class jobs that benefit rural communities. Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr announced an $800,000 investment in G4 Insights Inc. for the development of technology to convert forestry waste into RNG that can be distributed through existing natural gas pipelines in Canada.
G4 Insights is partnering with the Canadian Gas Association members Enbridge Gas Distribution, FortisBC, Gaz Metro, Union Gas, utility host ATCO, the Natural Gas Innovation Fund, Alberta Innovates, and FPInnovations, who are contributing a combined $1.35 million towards this project.
Renewable natural gas produced from sustainably managed forest residue can emit up to 85% less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional fossil fuels. Forest residue, which includes all parts of the tree, can be converted into solid, liquid or gaseous biofuels such as RNG that can then be burned for energy or used as fuel substitutes for transportation or industrial processes.
G4 Insights will build a RNG demonstration plant and test it under operational conditions with a range of biomass types to generate relevant technical operating and economic data. The optimal site location has been chosen in Edmonton, Alberta to support all-season operation in outdoor conditions.
Source: Government of Canada
