Past decade saw substantial Canadian biogas growth; trend expected to continue

A near 50 per cent increase in Canadian biogas growth was experienced from 2011 to 2020, according to the Canadian Biogas Association in its recently released Canadian 2020 Biogas Market Report.

There are currently 279 biogas projects in Canada that are capturing waste methane from agricultural waste, landfills, green bin programs and wastewater treatment facilities, and converting it into clean electricity and renewable natural gas (RNG). By comparison, it’s about the same as more than nine large hydro dams and 300 million square metres of solar panels.

“It’s more important than ever that we tell Canada’s biogas story” Jennifer Green, executive director of the Canadian Biogas Association, said. “Biogas can deliver reliable and clean energy while reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and driving economic development in both urban and rural areas. Biogas is a full package solution for Canada’s climate targets, and the good news is there’s opportunity for much more of it. Research says that Canada could efficiently tap more than eight times more energy from biogas and RNG. That is the goal that the CBA is dedicated to helping achieve.”

Canada’s biogas sector is positioned for another decade of growth. The market report suggests that Canada is tapping only 13 per cent of its easily accessible biogas potential. Demand for RNG is increasing rapidly due in part to climate and clean energy policies at the national and provincial levels, including RNG mandates in British Columbia and Québec.

Biogas and RNG could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14 million tonnes in 2030 and 62 million tonnes in 2050, according to studies.