Biogas expertise - looking beyond our shores
In October 2024 Renewable Gas Manager David Hendry and Renewable Gas Senior Project Manager Elizabeth Smart travelled to Canada to attend the Value of Biogas West Conference.
Organised by the Canadian Biogas Association (Canadienne du biogas), the three-day conference was designed to support the development of biogas and biomethane projects around the world - providing a forum to share information, insights and expertise.
The conference attracted over 300 attendees from Canada and the Americas, Europe and beyond.
Powerco is currently exploring opportunities to capture biogas from organic waste and process it into biomethane suitable for use in its gas network.
Biomethane is a suitable alternative to natural gas, and could form an important part of New Zealand’s sustainable energy transition.
There are already thousands of successful biogas and biomethane projects operating around the globe, and in November 2024 Ecogas’ Reporoa facility began injecting biomethane into a Firstgas pipeline – a milestone for New Zealand.
David says the conference showed that New Zealand doesn’t need to re-invent the wheel when it comes to biogas.
“In developing their Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) industry, Canada has tackled many of the same challenges we’re facing as our market matures. By leveraging the insights and progress from established biogas markets, we can fast-track our own development and avoid unnecessary setbacks.”
David and Elizabeth shared their learnings from the conference in a webinar hosted by the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ).
You can watch the webinar below.