RNG: a growing part of Énergir’s gas supply
Énergir is working to help decarbonize Quebec and the energy distributed throughout its grid largely by focusing on RNG, which is renewable energy. We also back Quebec’s regulatory targets for RNG.
Regulatory targets
- 1 % RNG in 2020-20211
- 2 % RNG in 2023-20241
- 5 % RNG in 2025-20261
- 10 % RNG in 2030-20311
1. Énergir’s regulatory obligation is to distribute a minimum quantity of RNG during its fiscal year.
Énergir encourages the voluntary purchase of RNG by its customers. However, until our customers’ voluntary RNG purchases meet the regulatory target, Énergir charges the costs of unsold RNG volumes under the socialization fee rate, in accordance with its Conditions of Service and Tariff.
Benefits of RNG
For you
- Keep the same appliances: you can continue to use your existing gas appliances (you don’t have to replace them).
- Use it to do the same things: RNG is interchangeable with fossil-based natural gas and serves the same purposes (cooking, heating, etc.).
- Support the energy transition by voluntarily choosing to purchase a certain amount of renewable energy.
For society
- Leverage the value of the gas grid: RNG molecules and fossil-based natural gas molecules are interchangeable, so RNG requires few infrastructure changes and flows through the same pipes.
- Organic waste is diverted: RNG production purifies the biogas generated by the decomposition of organic waste, thereby producing renewable energy. Also, in some cases, it prevents the methane produced by the decomposition of this waste from being released into the atmosphere.
- We're banking on more renewable energy: By gradually replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, we help reduce GHG emissions from fossil fuels. That’s why the Government of Quebec has set RNG regulatory targets under the 2030 Green Economy Plan.
You can make a difference
You can choose to voluntary purchase a percentage of RNG to partially or fully (from 1% to 100%) replace the fossil natural gas you purchase with renewable energy.It’s quick, it’s easy, and you can change your selection from your Customer Space.
Join us in supporting the energy transition by voluntarily purchasing a certain amount of GNR.
Understanding your voluntary RNG purchase
When you purchase a percentage of RNG, you replace part of your purchase of fossil natural gas with an equivalent quantity of renewable energy, and you contribute to the fight against climate change. To understand your purchase, watch this video.
To find out more about the GHG emissions of RNG and learn about the impact of your voluntary purchase of RNG on Quebec’s GHG emissions and your own GHG emissions, see our Q&A below.
When you purchase renewable natural gas, you’re helping to improve your GHG balance because your purchase of RNG replaces the purchase of an equivalent amount of fossil natural gas.
Because RNG and fossil natural gas circulate in the same North American gas distribution system, their molecules mix completely, making it impossible to confirm the exact quantity of RNG molecules that reach your devices. While we cannot necessarily deliver to you the quantity of RNG you purchased, your share is exclusively attributed to you and is reflected on your bill. Your purchase of RNG helps improve your GHG balance by reducing the GHG emissions targeted by the fight against climate change.
In addition, Énergir guarantees that the total amount it procures from RNG producers is greater than the quantity purchased by all its customers, as verified by the Bureau de normalisation du Québec.
For more information on GHG emissions from renewable natural gas and how to account for them in your GHG balance according to recognized GHG emissions quantification standards such as ISO 140064, see the questions and answers on our website: “Does RNG emit GHG emissions?” “How are GHG emissions from RNG combustion accounted for?” and “How do RNG purchases impact Énergir customers?”
Yes, if it’s produced from a renewable source. There are five main sources of renewable energy: the sun, wind, water, the earth (geothermal energy) and organic matter. Organic waste is used in the case of renewable natural gas (RNG) purchased by Énergir. Things like table scraps, wastewater, manure and agricultural slurry all have very short renewal cycles.
To meet the regulatory RNG targets, Énergir sources RNG primarily from producers located in the United States. It is working to increase its supply from producers in Quebec. 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. 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 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. Since the RNG and fossil natural gas molecules flow through the same gas network and are mixed together indistinguishably, Énergir has a verification body conduct an annual verification to ensure that its total annual supply from RNG producers is at least equal to the quantity of RNG purchased by all its customers and that the RNG purchased is 100% organic (and does not include any fossil molecules).
For more information, see the question “What ensures that the amount of RNG I voluntarily purchased is correctly attributed to my home?”
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 network 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 voluntarily 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 the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ). The RNG volumes you purchase are shown on your detailed total natural gas consumption bills.
You can request a change at any time to the amount of renewable natural gas you voluntarily purchase. As a customer, for an effective date of the first of the following month, you must 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. The change request is made directly in your Customer Space by specifying the revised purchase percentage and desired effective date.
It is a rate used to distribute the costs associated with the volume of RNG that is required for Énergir to meet its regulatory obligation but that was not voluntarily purchased by its customers. Énergir has a regulatory obligation to distribute a certain minimum quantity of RNG. Even when this entire quantity is not voluntarily purchased by its customers, Énergir is still bound by its obligation. In this case, in accordance with its Conditions of Service and Tariff, Énergir charges the cost of unsold volumes of RNG to customers who, relative to their own natural gas consumption, have not purchased at least the proportion of RNG that corresponds to the regulatory threshold (that is, 2% in 2023-2024, 5% in 2025-2026 and 10% in 2030-2031).
Énergir has a regulatory obligation to distribute a minimum amount of RNG during its fiscal year (2% in 2023-2024, 5% in 2025-2026 and 10% in 2030-2031). If customers do not voluntarily purchase a portion of that RNG, Énergir charges them for unsold volumes equal to at least the regulatory threshold, on their own gas consumption.
Thus, if demand from voluntary customers does not exceed the regulatory threshold regarding the quantity of RNG to be delivered, voluntary purchases will not impact the reduction of GHG emissions in Québec attributable to RNG. Conversely, if voluntary purchases exceed that regulatory threshold, they enable a further reduction of GHG emissions from RNG with respect to Québec.
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. Biogenic CO2 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.
Although also biogenic, N2O and CH4 combustion emissions (less than 1% of combustion emissions) from RNG must be reported in the direct emissions (Scope 1 emissions) of the person or entity using RNG in their GHG inventory.
Biogenic CO2 emitted during combustion also has to be quantified. Provided that the applicable rules (including RNG traceability) of the standard used to perform the GHG inventory allow it, biogenic CO2 must be reported separately from Scope 1 emissions in the GHG inventory. The regulations governing the declaration of GHG emissions and Quebec’s GHG cap-and-trade system (CATS) stipulate that these CO2 emissions must be reported but do not have to be covered by emission allowances under Quebec’s GHG cap-and-trade system.
RNG production emits GHGs. GHGs are also emitted during RNG transmission and distribution.