FortisBC is looking at a strategy to decarbonize the province’s energy systems through the use of renewable gas.
That was the pitch to the regional district on July 7 when energy solutions director Jason Wolfe made his presentation.
Wolfe said talk has been focusing on reducing carbon emissions by using more hydro-generated electricity or clean generated electricity, he said.
“You are also going to have to find ways to decarbonize your fossil fuels [reduction or removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere] because it’s not really feasible to switch everything over to electricity,” Wolfe stated.
But if you wanted to do that your electricity system would have to grow substantially, he added.
Wolfe said the other challenge is how to get that energy to the consumer when they need it. He pointed out the difficulty in delivering it during peak times in the winter. Wolfe told the board that on a very cold day, the energy demand on the natural gas system is 60 per cent higher than the electric system.
The point is, he said, if you want to be able to deliver that energy on peak days, you must have a system capable of doing that.
Wolfe said if you want to “electrify everything,” you have to more than double or triple your capacity, which is challenging and costly.
The other, more viable alternative is decarbonizing the gas system to meet emission reduction targets in B.C., he said, introducing their renewable gas initiative.
Wolfe said FortisBC is the first utility in North America to produce and sell renewable natural gas to customers. He explained this gas comes from landfills, farms, waste water, wood waste, and municipal organics, which all produce carbon dioxide and methane.
Wolfe said FortisBC captures that carbon dioxide and methane and purifies it before delivery to customers.
“It’s a very efficient and effective way to utilize energy already being produced.”
He noted the Surrey Biofuel Facility takes green curbside waste and converts that to renewable gas that it uses to fuel its trucks.
Simply put, decarbonization can be done through renewable gas, Wolfe said, noting that 18 million gigajoules are enough to heat 320,000 homes. He added they have enough renewable gas to equal the output of the Site C dam and are continuing to add to that.
Wolfe said that FortisBC has submitted an application to its regulator to make some program changes. He said customers can ask for a blend of between five and 100 per cent of renewable gas, which costs a premium ($7 over the existing cost).
Wolfe said they are proposing that all new residential gas customers (from single family homes to row houses) receive 100 per cent of renewable gas for the life of their buildings. They will pay the same gas cost as existing residential customers.
According to Wolfe, this initiative should meet every municipality’s regulations regarding building emission factors.
“This is a new offering, a first of its kind in North America. No other gas utility is contemplating something this new or this radical, I suppose.”
Wolfe said they have “done all the math” and fully believe they have enough gas for all new residential connections. FortisBC expects to implement this new plan by January of 2024, he told the board.
