Canadian Biogas Metrics Study: Quantifying the Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits of Biogas Energy in Canada Maria Kelleher, Kelleher Environmental 12 th November, 2013 1
Presentation Outline Biogas sources Energy potential, environmental and economic benefits of each source Advantages of biogas as a renewable energy source 2
Canadian Biogas Metrics Study Objectives Biogas Association is a member driven association which represents all aspects of the biogas sector. In May, 2013, commissioned a study to quantify the potential benefits of increasing biogas energy across Canada Environmental Social/Community Economic 3
What is Biogas? Mixture of methane (natural gas) (50% to 55%) and CO 2 produced when organic waste is broken down in the absence of oxygen VERSATILITY is a big advantage of biogas compared to other renewable energy sources: Burned directly to produce energy through: Burning directly (heat) Producing electricity Producing heat and electricity (co-generation) Upgraded to biomethane (RNG) and used to: Inject into the natural gas pipeline as renewable natural gas (RNG)/biomethane Produce vehicle fuel 4
5
Sources of Biogas Canadian Biogas Metrics Study focused on 5 biogas sources: Agricultural digesters Landfill gas Wastewater treatment plants Anaerobic digestion of residential Green Bin waste Anaerobic digestion of commercial organic/biodegradable waste 6
Potential Energy From Five Biogas Sources 6% 6% 12% 6% 70% Agriculture Landfill gas (LFG) SSO Residential SSO Commercial WPCP 7
Agricultural Digesters 8
9
10
Agricultural Digesters Can digest animal manures, crop residues, off-farm waste Most activity has been in Ontario to date because of Feed-in-Tariff; 30 farm digesters in Ontario; numbers growing Energy crops digested in Europe; not in Canada so far. 400MW potential in Ontario; 800MW in Canada Potential to build 1,100 farm digesters across Canada at 500kW capacity Reliable, distributed electricity base load for rural areas GHG reduction benefit of 24 Million tonnes eco2/year - equivalent to taking 5 million cars off the road 11
Benefits of Agricultural Digesters Rural economic development Diversify farm income and provide direct and indirect jobs in rural areas Provides on-farm energy requirements Heat for greenhouses, other farm requirements (crop drying etc) Environmental Benefits of Digestion Reduces pathogens up to 99% Improved nutrient management Digestate provides fertilizer input and carbon structure to soil Digestate can be used as animal bedding 12
Landfill Gas 13
Landfill Gas 10,000 landfills across Canada; 800 active Third largest source of methane emissions in Canada 3% of Canada s national GHG emissions 66 landfill gas recovery projects across Canada now 7 million tonnes eco2 reduction Equivalent of taking 1.5 million cars off the road Capture d Flared 14
Landfill Gas Largest GHG source over which municipalities have control New regulations require capture to reduce GHG emissions utilization rather than flaring depends on economics Environment Canada study 41 projects have net positive economics 290Mm 3 /year RNG; 95MW Capital cost $322 million Economic spin-off $900 million Net revenue $57 million/year GHG reduction 4.5 million tonnes; 900,000 cars off the road 15
Residential Green Bin Source Separated Organics 16
AD of Residential Green Bin Waste 9.2 million tonnes of municipal solid waste disposed each year from residential sources 2.3 million tonnes is food/organic waste Green bin programs are developing across Canada to meet waste diversion targets Typically divert 20% of municipal residential waste stream Most currently compost green bin waste with no energy recovery Toronto only city using AD so far; Surrey BC initiating project AD has much smaller footprint than composting Allowed Toronto to build processing within City borders 12 municipal AD facilities in planning stages in Quebec 17
AD of Residential Green Bin Material AD has been slow to take off in Canadian and US municipalities Potential for 37 AD facilities to produce 55 MW (or 140 Mm 3 /year RNG) Some municipalities across Canada considering AD for green bin material Green power, GHG reduction, small footprint, odour management 18
Anaerobic Digestion of Commercial Organics 19
AD of Commercial/Industrial Waste First private, commercial AD facilities just opening in London, Richmond Potential similar to residential green bin ~ 40 AD facilities at 60,000 tonnes/year 55MW or 140Mm 3 /year of biomethane 20
Wastewater Treatment Plants 21
Wastewater Treatment Plants 4,000 wastewater treatment plants produce 660,000 dry tonnes of biosolids Of 50 largest wastewater treatment plants in Canada, about 55% digest biosolids Potential to capture 140 Mm 3 /year of biomethane (55MW) Large facilities already have digesters Most use biogas for heating; flare in summer Some facilities have co-generation 22
CANADIAN BIOGAS METRICS STUDY SUMMARY STATISTICS 23
Energy Potential and Environmental Benefits of Biogas Projects Preliminary Results Agriculture LFG SSO Res SSO Com WPCP Total Electricity (MW) 550 95 55 55 55 810 RNG (Mm 3 /year) 1,650 290 140 140 140 2,360 GHG Reduction (mteco2/year) 25.5 4.5 2.2 2.2 2.2 36.5 Cars Off the Road 5,100,000 900,000 432,000 432,000 432,000 7,300,00 0 % of Canada s Elec Demand 0.9% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 1.3% % of Canada s NG Demand 2.1% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 3.0% 24
Economic Impacts of Biogas Projects Preliminary Results Agriculture LFG SSO Res SSO Com WPCP Total Construction jobs (for one year) On-going operating jobs Capital investment ($b Can) 10,200 2,000 1,800 1,800 1,000 16,800 1,320 120 500 500 250 2,700 $3 $0.3 $1.7 $1.3 $0.6 $7.0 Indirect economic spinoff ($b Can) $9.3 $1.0 $5.1 $4.0 $1.7 $21.0 25
Benefits of Biogas Unique features of biogas as a renewable energy source: Reliable, flexible, distributed renewable energy, 24/7, regardless of weather; can be stored; can be used for heat, electricity or fuel, more flexibility than other renewables Environmental Benefits GHG reduction Significant reduction in pathogens Closed loop waste management Economic and Community Benefits Local jobs and investment Income for farmers 26
Conclusions Solution for agriculture Economic, environmental, community benefits Solution for sustainability Major GHG, air and water quality benefits Waste management solution Captures energy from waste, diverts from landfill, reduces odour, can fuel waste trucks Renewable energy solution Can produce 3% of our natural gas demand or 810 MW of reliable, clean, green electricity 27
Questions Maria Kelleher, Principal, Kelleher Environmental maria@kellenv.com 28