Enbridge in 3-way partnership to develop Canadian renewable natural gas projects

Enbridge Inc. is joining forces with Walker Industries and Comcor Environmental to develop a number of Canadian renewable natural gas (RNG) projects.

The purpose of the arrangement is to transform landfill waste into carbon-neutral energy that will subsequently be injected into local gas distribution networks across Canada. This will reduce overall carbon emissions of the gas supply used to heat homes, power businesses and fuel vehicle fleets.

“Renewable natural gas is a low-carbon fuel that will help us get to net-zero,” Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s minister of Natural Resources, said. “Companies like Enbridge are working to lower emissions, create jobs, and develop new opportunities to transform landfill waste into low-emitting energy.”

About 33 Petajoules (PJ) of landfill derived RNG can be generated in Canada, the industry estimates, which can potentially supply energy to approximately 400,000 homes for a year. The venture intends to unlock this RNG potential and offer commercially viable solutions to landfills ready for development. Currently under development, the Niagara RNG facility in Ontario, is expected to be in service in 2022, and is the partnership’s first landfill RNG project, with several other projects in the works.

Canada has more than 10,000 landfill sites which generate approximately 30 Megatonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually, accounting for 20 per cent of national methane emissions. Only a third of those landfill emissions are captured and utilized while the rest are emitted directly to the atmosphere. Repurposing this under-utilized resource has the potential to divert 20 Mt of CO2e, which is comparable to diverting 850 million trash bags of organic material from landfills per year.

“RNG presents a tremendous opportunity to provide affordable, reliable, and low-carbon fuel for Canada’s increasing energy needs, leveraging our existing energy system and stimulating economic growth,” Cynthia Hansen, executive vice-president and president, gas distribution and storage, Enbridge, said. “For example, the Niagara RNG facility project will generate enough clean energy to heat 8,750 homes and reduce GHG emissions by 48,000 tonnes per year. This is just one example of how Enbridge is connecting consumers to renewable sources of energy. Together we’re leading the way to a green energy future.”

Geordie Walker, CEO of Walker Industries, said converting waste into a clean energy resource helps to build a sustainable future.

“By converting waste into a clean energy resource, we are able to build a sustainable future,” he said. “This partnership provides significant benefits to our environment while stimulating the local economy with jobs.”

Walter Graziani, president of Comcor Environmental, said the production of RNG from landfill gas and its use in existing energy infrastructure is a pathway towards greenhouse gas reductions and a greener energy future in Canada.

“Comcor Environmental is proud to partner with Walker Industries and Enbridge to make this first of its kind partnership a reality,” he said. “We look forward to helping Canada meets its climate change goals through RNG project development across the country.”