Choose a supply of renewable natural gas for your business

No, no equipment modifications are required, since RNG and fossil natural gas are interchangeable and flow through the same gas distribution system. RNG can therefore be used for the same purposes.

In fact, this is why RNG purchases are considered accounting-based rather than physical: it is not possible to distinguish which gas molecules are delivered directly to your equipment.

If no purchase requirement or fixed-term agreement applies to your building, you may request a change to the amount of your voluntary renewable natural gas purchase at any time.

As a customer, for a change to come into effect on the 1st of the following month, submit your request no later than the 20th of the current month. Requests received after the 20th of the month will be processed with the following month’s requests. Change requests are made by phone with the Énergir team, specifying the revised percentage purchase and the desired effective date. To contact us, call 1 800 563-2021.

There is no way to confirm the exact amount of purchased RNG that is delivered to your devices, since RNG and fossil natural gas flow through the same gas distribution and the molecules are thoroughly mixed together. The same is true for the electricity you purchase: you can’t tell which dam or wind turbine generated the electrons that are lighting your home.

The quantity that is purchased by a customer differs from the quantity that is physically transported to the customer’s devices. Énergir has put stringent measures in place to periodically ensure that its total annual supply from RNG producers to replace fossil natural gas is at least equal to the quantity purchased by all its customers and that the RNG it purchases is 100% organic (and does not include any fossil molecules). After the end of every year, Énergir has its RNG supply and inventory verified by an independent verification body.

The RNG volumes you purchase are shown on your detailed total natural gas consumption bills.

To meet the regulatory RNG targets, Énergir sources RNG from local producers, but primarily from producers located in the United States. Énergir is working to increase its supply from producers in Quebec, subject to availability. The amount of RNG purchased by Énergir from each producer is injected by the producer into the gas distribution system in the region where the producer is located. It can be injected into the gas distribution system of Énergir or another distributor in North America and it is then blended with the fossil natural gas flowing through the same distribution system. The two then become inseparable. For example, as is the case with Énergir’s supply of fossil natural gas or the supply of electricity, once the purchased energy is injected into the gas distribution system or the power system, the gas molecule or electron cannot be physically tracked. The gas molecule or electron is consumed by the different users connected to these systems. The amount of RNG purchased by Énergir reduces the quantity of fossil natural gas that Énergir purchases as part of its overall supply.

RNG combustion is not emission-free; it generates GHG emissions (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) just like the combustion of fossil natural gas. CO₂ is the main GHG that is generated (over 99% of combustion emissions). For RNG, though, the CO₂ emissions from its combustion are said to be biogenic because they come from biomass. Biogenic CO₂ emissions are not generally targeted by climate change objectives, unlike emissions from the combustion of fossil natural gas. Although CO₂ from the combustion of fossil natural gas can be reabsorbed by biomass during photosynthesis, burning fossil natural gas releases CO₂ that has been sequestered for millions of years in geological formations and results in a net addition of CO2 to the atmosphere. In contrast, the CO₂ released into the atmosphere from RNG combustion (biogenic CO₂) was sequestered in organic matter (food waste, manure, wastewater, etc.), which renews much more rapidly, on a scale ranging from a few months to a few years. The biogenic CO₂ was present in the atmosphere, was absorbed by organic residues and could be again re-emitted into the atmosphere. BiogenicCO₂ is therefore part of the short carbon cycle. The actual effect of biogenic CO₂ emissions from RNG combustion on the climate depends on a number of factors, including the biomass source and production processes. RNG sold by Énergir to its customers is produced from organic waste and has not led to significant changes in land use.

Subject to applicable quantification standards, customers may account for the amount of RNG purchased, whether voluntarily or to meet a requirement, in their GHG inventory.

For more information on how the various GHG emissions associated with the combustion of RNG purchased voluntarily or to meet a requirement are accounted for in a GHG emissions inventory, see the question below: “How are GHG emissions from RNG combustion are accounted for (GHG inventory)?”.

Énergir generally relies on Protocol QC.30, “Fuel and Combustible Distribution,” which applies to fuel and combustible distributors (such as Énergir) under the RMRCECA, to quantify emissions related to the combustion of fossil natural gas and RNG.

Énergir provides a reference page detailing the methodologies for calculating and demonstrating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with its decarbonation offers. For more information on the methodology used to calculate GHG emissions from RNG, see the relevant section.

Énergir has switched to voluntarily purchasing RNG for the buildings it owns. For example, Énergir purchases RNG for its eight regional business offices, its head office, the École de technologie gazière, and the LSR plant in an amount equivalent to its consumption of fossil natural gas for these facilities. This choice directly supports our objective to reduce fossil-based GHG emissions from our facilities and is part of meeting the decarbonization targets for buildings in Quebec.