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Monday, April 24, 2017

Canadian Biogas Association (CBA) provides tools and training for biogas project developers


The Canadian Biogas Association recently hosted two Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Workshops for municipalities as part of a series of targeted communications for municipal and public sector staff to learn more about this important renewable fuel. Participants of the first workshop have learn about RNG technologies, tools for measuring GHG emission reductions, such as GHGenius, and a number of RNG projects that have been implemented by municipalities across Canada.
The second Workshop was focused on implementing municipal RNG projects. A financial tool for RNG projects was introduced at the workshop, and utilities provided information on guidelines for grid connection, including gas standards, costs and procedures. A financial tool is Excel based spreadsheet which allows to evaluate amount of biogas produced, necessary capital and operation costs, as well as project revenue and profitability for biogas production at farms, landfills and wastewater facilities.
RNG provides up to double the GHG benefit comparing to use of biogas for electricity generation because all of the energy in the gas is available to the application, whereas in generating electricity the system has only around 35% energy efficiency.
According to Canadian_Biogas_Study (2014), all biogas sources together, without the use of energy crops, have the potential to meet about 3% of Canada’s natural gas demand (biogas contribution is 2,420 Mm3 /year of renewable natural gas, or RNG) or 1.3% of its electricity demand (biogas contribution is 810MW).