The Saint-Flavien injection hub: An asset for regional RNG development
Énergir offers the first multi-user gas receiving and injection station in Quebec. This new infrastructure enables renewable natural gas (RNG) producers far from its network to truck their production for injection into the existing network.
Énergir is actively promoting the development of RNG in Quebec, with the aim of achieving at least 10% in the gas distribution system by 2030. To this end, Énergir is building a multi-user virtual pipeline for receiving and injecting compressed RNG (C-RNG) and liquefied RNG (L-RNG) in the Énergir transmission system located in Saint-Flavien, near the storage site of its subsidiary Intragaz.
The estimated $17.5 million project is made possible by a $14.8 million grant from the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) through the Renewable Natural Gas Production Support Program (PSPGNR).
A solution for remote producers
This innovative new infrastructure is designed to facilitate the development of RNG projects for producers far from the existing gas distribution system. By delivering and injecting the RNG they produce into the system from a common injection point, developers can recover residual and agricultural organic waste and take part in the energy transition.
Transporting RNG by truck
Three separate producers will deliver the RNG they produce at our Saint-Flavien facility: Société d’économie mixte d’énergie renouvelable (SÉMER) in the Rivière-du-Loup area and Carbonaxion in Neuville for L-RNG, and BioÉnertek in Sainte-Sophie-de-Lévrard for C-RNG.
Timeline and construction
Construction of the RNG injection hub will begin in summer 2025, so that the volumes produced can be injected starting in 2026. In its current version, the project will make it possible to receive around 12 truck deliveries of compressed and liquid RNG per week.
Definition of operational processes | July 2024 — July 2025 |
Permit application and procurement (BoD) | October 2024 — march 2025 |
Detailed engineering | November 2024 — may 2025 |
Construction | June 2025 — november 2025 |
| Operations team training | July 2025 — February 2026 |
| Commissioning | November 2025 — March 2026 |
Required infrastructure
- 1 LNG unloading dock
- 2 CNG unloading docks (possibility of 3 total)
- Injection station
- Service building
- Analysis building
- Settling tank
- Gates and site security
Authorizations
Construction of the injection hub was subject to a thorough, in-depth review by various regulatory bodies:
- Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec
- Régie de l’énergie
- Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
- Municipalité de Saint-Flavien
C-RNG and L-RNG: Efficient solutions for RNG transport
Compressed renewable natural gas (C-RNG) and liquefied renewable natural gas (L-RNG) are derived from the recovery of biogas from landfills and biomethanation, for example of agricultural waste.
L-RNG is a renewable natural gas that is cooled to -160°C to turn it into a liquid. In liquid form, it takes up 600 times less space than in gas form. This means that large quantities of the gas can be transported over shorter distances.
C-RNG has the same properties as renewable natural gas in gas form. When compressed, it can be stored at a pressure 300 times higher than normal air pressure, which greatly reduces its volume. This volume reduction makes C-RNG easier to transport and enables more gas to be delivered in a single trip.
Safety and prevention a priority
Énergir’s distribution system is among the most modern in North America and is maintained by a team of experts. It is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At all times, our control centre monitors the pressure at more than 100 reading points to ensure the stability and smooth operation of the gas distribution system.
Learn more about safety and prevention at Énergir.
Renewable natural gas
Produced from organic waste, renewable natural gas (RNG) is a renewable energy source that can replace fossil fuels in the gas distribution network and reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targeted by the fight against climate change.
Learn more about renewable natural gas, the cornerstone of our commitment to decarbonizing the energy distributed in our gas network.
Questions or comments
Énergir is committed to keeping the public and anyone affected by the project informed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to write to us at [email protected].