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Turning our waste into renewable energy

As a province that relies on a mix of high-emitting energy sources, including coal and oil, to keep us warm, we need to think outside the box for ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint. One of the ways we can achieve this is by producing Renewable Natural Gas.

Fuelling the future

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is a low-carbon fuel that is produced by capturing, cleaning, and upgrading biogas from landfills, organic waste, or wastewater treatment plants. It is distributed through the existing natural gas lines to customers.

RNG is not a new technology. It has been used extensively around the world for many years, especially in places where conventional natural gas is more expensive like Europe and Asia. In Canada, several RNG facilities are already operating or being developed including in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, British Columbia and Toronto.

Building on our green successes

Halifax, Nova Scotia was the first large municipality in Canada to implement a green bin program back in 1998. The city has seen incredible success with the adoption of composting and recycling programs, including a very high separation rate for green bin organics. Renewable natural gas presents another exciting opportunity to be leaders in creating a greener city.

Full of potential for your home and ours

Taking advantage of RNG in Halifax could potentially produce heat for over 5,500 homes or fuel over 400 transit buses with renewable energy.

Switching to RNG could virtually eliminate a significant part of your household carbon footprint. Home heating and hot water is typically the biggest source of household GHG emissions. Heating accounts for approximately 80% of the energy used in a home and almost all heating fuels – electricity, heat pumps, fuel oil, propane, and natural gas – emit GHGs.

Not only is RNG a green solution for energy consumption but it can also be produced at a competitive or lower cost compared to other renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Eastward Energy is actively working to support the development of RNG projects here in Nova Scotia.

A high-level view of how RNG works:

Learn about other Canadian RNG projects:

City of Surrey – Surrey Biofuel
Quebec, Saint-Hyacinthe – Information sheet about RNG
Toronto – Turning Waste into Renewable Natural Gas

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