A Techno-economic assessment of renewable natural gas (RNG) as a potential low carbon intensity fuel alternative eligible under Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard

The aim of this project is to determine whether renewable natural gas (RNG) is a feasible low carbon intensity (CI) fuel alternative which can be produced using existing production technologies (anaerobic digestion) and farm waste (corn silage and/or wheat, barley, oat straw) at an economically feasible cost within Canada. Driven by the introduction of Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard (CFS), this work will also aim to determine the potential value which may be generated as a result of the establishment of a national low carbon fuel credit market, and the role this national market plays in determining the profitability of RNG production. This investment opportunity will be compared against alternative credit generating opportunities defined under the CFS to determine the relative costs of credit generation under unique conditions and the market sizes which can be developed within Canada for RNG and the associated credits. Dr. Jennifer Winter will act as the Academic Supervisor for this project and TransAlta’s Braydon Boulanger & Lukas Hansen will serve as Industry Partners.

The partnering organization will benefit from this work as it will offer unique insights into the potential profitability of an investment into RNG and the CFS. Specifically, it will outline the

Faculty Supervisor:

Jennifer Winter

Student:

Partner:

TransAlta Corporation

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Utilities

University:

University of Calgary

Program: