FortisBC is teaming up with Dicklands Farms in Chilliwack, British Columbia to boost its Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production. Once the project is at peak production, it is expected to produce enough low-carbon RNG to meet the annual gas needs of approximately 2,000 B.C. homes.
Dicklands Farms is currently producing RNG from agricultural and food waste with the existing Fraser Valley Biogas project. Renewable Natural Gas is derived from organic sources, uses existing carbon already within the ecosystem and contributes fewer new carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than conventional natural gas, making it a low-carbon fuel.
When bacteria break down organic waste from sources such as landfills, agricultural farms and wastewater from treatment facilities, it produces a biogas mostly made of methane. FortisBC is working to create RNG with local farms, landfills, green energy companies and municipalities to capture and purify this methane, which would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. As RNG mixes seamlessly into the existing natural gas infrastructure, it decarbonizes the natural gas supply, displaces equivalent volumes of conventional natural gas and lowers greenhouse gas emissions overall.
Jenelle De La Cour, manager, Renewable Gas accounts with FortisBC said thanks to the project, “the residents of the Fraser Valley can be proud of how much their community is helping advance a lower-carbon future in B.C.” She added “The more RNG we have, the less conventional natural gas we need. Every RNG project is a win for climate action.”
For this project, Dicklands Farms is combining anaerobic digestion and a biogas upgrading plant to produce RNG from the manure of the farm’s dairy cows and from other locally produced organic food waste.
“Turning our agricultural manure and local food waste into RNG, organic fertilizer pellets and clean water is a great way for us to diversify the farm’s revenue streams, while also operating the farm in a more sustainable manner in line with our values” said George Dick, Dicklands Farms owner. “Myself and my family are very excited to be supplying FortisBC with RNG”.
Over 11,500 B.C. homes and businesses are already subscribed to FortisBC’s RNG program. By 2030, FortisBC projects that there will be enough renewable and low-carbon gas in the system to meet the annual gas needs of close to 345,000 homes in British Columbia.
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