Become a Renewable Natural Gas supplier

We’re committed to continuing to acquire Renewable Natural Gas1 (RNG), and are looking for additional suppliers so we can acquire more of this lower carbon energy2 to help our more than 1.1 million gas customers lower overall emissions.

We're currently seeking new supply projects in B.C. and across Canada

We’re continuously looking to partner with more organizations and governments to acquire additional RNG supply. If you’re interested in working together to create renewable energy, contact us to start the conversation!

Note: As a regulated utility, FortisBC is required to submit potential projects to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for review. The BCUC reviews the projects to ensure they meet the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation.

Lower carbon portfolio allowance: RNG expansion

In July 2021, the province of B.C. amended the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation to increase the production and use of lower carbon gas.3 This creates a greater opportunity to continue acquiring RNG supply in B.C., helping to further lower overall emissions.

Benefits for RNG suppliers

With proven RNG expertise, FortisBC offers important benefits to RNG suppliers, including:

  • Alternative revenue: selling RNG to FortisBC provides a long-term revenue stream. FortisBC pays competitive rates to our suppliers. We use a financial model that considers the capital and operating costs associated with RNG upgrading and interconnection equipment, helping suppliers achieve a reasonable rate of return.
  • Partner stability: we’ve owned and operated gas infrastructure in B.C. for more than 60 years. RNG purchase agreements with our suppliers are typically between 10 and 20 years in length. We operate with transparency, receiving oversight from the BCUC.
  • RNG expertise: having worked with RNG suppliers for more than a decade, our team has considerable experience and expertise in RNG processing and adding it to our system. We currently work with RNG supply projects, successfully operating three of our own RNG upgrading facilities.4
  • Established market: today, more than 14,000 B.C. homes and businesses are already subscribed to RNG through the current voluntary RNG program. Also, most FortisBC gas customers have a portion of their natural gas designated as RNG, known as designated RNG blend.

How we evaluate projects

We’re committed to developing projects that meet our customers’ needs. Each project must meet certain requirements, including:

  • Economics: we evaluate potential projects using a financial model that takes into account all of the costs associated with producing a high-quality, safe biogas for consumers. This includes costs for equipment, operation, maintenance, use of existing FortisBC infrastructure and the price of biogas. Once calculated, the full cost of delivered biogas must be below a pre-determined threshold.
  • Proposed technology: we have a responsibility to provide our customers with a safe, affordable and reliable energy supply. We use proven biogas upgrading equipment to ensure it meets the same quality standards as the conventional natural gas we deliver to our customers.
  • Supplier stability: our biogas project suppliers must make long-term commitments to ensure a reliable supply of RNG.
  • Regulatory approval: as a regulated utility, FortisBC is required to submit potential projects to the BCUC for review. Unless noted specifically, all projects must meet the requirements of the BCUC.

Meet our suppliers

We wouldn’t be able to offer RNG without our dedicated local suppliers.

Meet our Renewable Natural Gas suppliers

RNG resources

The Canadian Biogas Association is the collective voice of the biogas industry and it provides valuable resources for the exploration of new developments and new markets for RNG.

1Renewable Natural Gas (also called “RNG”) is produced from biogas at dedicated RNG production facilities. Biogas is derived from decomposing organic waste at landfills or agricultural and other organic waste such as wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured, upgraded and processed to create RNG that is added to existing energy infrastructure. This means we’re unable to direct RNG to a specific customer. However, because RNG displaces conventional natural gas, the more RNG that is added to the gas system, the less conventional natural gas is used.

2FortisBC uses the term lower carbon energy to refer collectively to electricity and the lower carbon gases or fuels that the utility can produce, use and/or acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation (“Regulation”). The Regulation identifies different sources of electricity and gas that are prescribed based on their feedstock and production processes. FortisBC’s lower carbon energy portfolio includes Renewable Natural Gas (also called “RNG”) and electricity. Other gases and fuels may be added to the portfolio over time. FortisBC’s lower carbon energy portfolio is lower carbon when compared to conventional natural gas.

3FortisBC uses the term lower carbon gas to refer collectively to the lower carbon gases or fuels that the utility can produce, use and/or acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation (“Regulation”). The Regulation identifies different sources of gases that are prescribed based on their feedstock and production processes. FortisBC’s lower carbon gas portfolio includes Renewable Natural Gas (also called “RNG”). Other gases and fuels may be added to the portfolio over time. FortisBC’s lower carbon gas portfolio is lower carbon when compared to conventional natural gas.

4The City of Vancouver Biogas Facility is still in a commissioning and evaluation stage. Therefore, it is not expected to contribute appreciable volumes to the FortisBC RNG portfolio until the end of 2026.