So, what is Renewable Natural Gas anyway?

We’re finding low-carbon¹ energy in unlikely places. Renewable Natural Gas² (RNG) is a low-carbon energy that can help reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Please note: With recent approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission, all gas customers will have a portion of their gas automatically designated as Renewable Natural Gas¹ beginning July 1, 2024. This will support B.C.’s clean energy transformation. No action is required from customers, and we’ll keep you up to date as more information becomes available.

RNG in a nutshell

When bacteria break down organic waste from sources such as landfill sites, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities, they produce a biogas mostly made of methane. Our suppliers capture and clean the biogas to create RNG.

5 common questions and answers about RNG

We’re here to help by answering the 5 common questions people have about RNG.

Want to learn more?

Check out a few of our blog posts about RNG:

• Sustainable energy solutions for a better BC
• How we’re transforming BC’s energy for a cleaner tomorrow
• 5 climate action steps we took in 2021 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• 5 reasons we’re investing in our gas system to support BC’s lower-carbon future

¹When compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The burner tip emission factor of FortisBC’s current Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane) portfolio is 0.27 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO₂e/MJ). FortisBC’s current RNG portfolio lifecycle emissions for stationary combustion are -22 gCO₂e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s low carbon threshold for lifecycle carbon intensity of 30.8 gCO₂e/MJ as set out in the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation amendments.

²Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane) is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create RNG. When RNG is added to North America’s natural gas system, it mixes with conventional natural gas. This means we’re unable to direct RNG to a specific customer. But the more RNG is added to the gas system, the less conventional natural gas is needed, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and overall greenhouse gas emissions

³FortisBC uses the term renewable and low-carbon gas to refer collectively to the low-carbon gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. FortisBC’s renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio currently includes only Renewable Natural Gas. Other gases and fuels may be added to the program over time. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. However, all of these gases are low carbon when compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The current burner tip emission factor of RNG is 27 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO₂e/MJ) and the current renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio lifecycle emissions for stationary combustion are -22 gCO₂e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s low carbon threshold for lifecycle carbon intensity of 30.8 gCO₂e/MJ as set out in the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation amendments.