City report pushes conversion, sale of landfill gases

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This article was published 25/02/2022 (1370 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg could convert potent landfill gases into renewable energy, then potentially raise millions of dollars from selling it off under a new proposal.

A civic report seeks permission to negotiate a contract with Integrated Gas Recovery Services, which would see Winnipeg become a “raw resource landfill gas supplier” for a 20-year term. If the pitch is approved, city officials would produce a final contract for council consideration.

“Using renewable gas instead of (standard) natural gas yields a significant environmental benefit, including reductions in (greenhouse gas) emissions. The reality is, it’s probably best the world stopped burning carbon that’s been stored in the ground for millions of years and burned the carbon your grandparents threw away in the 1970s,” said Michael Gordichuk, manager of solid waste services.

Gordichuk said converting methane produced at landfills by waste decomposition to create a new energy source can provide fuel without the emissions needed to extract new supplies of natural gas.

“It’s almost recycling your garbage,” he said.

Currently, the city flares the vast majority of methane produced at its Brady Road landfill to convert it to carbon dioxide. Since methane is far more potent than flared carbon dioxide, that does reduce the impact of the emissions, said Gordichuk, but reusing the gas would further reduce emissions.

The head of council’s environment committee said he expects to support the motion as a way to cut pollution.

Coun. Brian Mayes also plans to ask for a report on how the city could reduce its reliance on non-renewable natural gas.

“What we’re (proposing) is good, converting the landfill gas to renewable natural gas. At the same time, I think we should be trying to do something more (to combat) climate change,” Mayes said Friday.

For example, he said some cities are now considering targets that would require new builds to rely solely on renewable natural gas, instead of the traditional form.

If the gas conversion proposal is approved, the City of Winnipeg estimates it could earn about $10.5 million from the sales over the next 20 years. The earnings would be achieved through a staff-recommended option to sell the gas on the open market, distributing it through the Centra Gas Manitoba network.

Integrated Gas Recovery Services would be expected to cover the $22-million capital cost for the project, along with $2.5 million per year in operating costs.

“The beauty of this proposal is it’s not very often that the city has an opportunity to do something like this, to generate a new revenue source… at zero cost,” said Gordichuk.

The report notes Integrated Gas already operates the landfill gas flaring system at the Brady Road dump. That contract gives the company the first opportunity to pursue any Winnipeg effort to convert the gas.

If the proposal is approved as is, the company would construct, operate, maintain and own the gas-converting facility.

Since the exact cost and fees required to produce the gas are still being determined, it’s not yet clear how much profit the private company would receive from the project, said Gordichuk.

A second option could see the city supply the treated landfill gas to the University of Manitoba, which would require the construction of a dedicated pipeline. Gordichuk said it isn’t clear who would pay for the pipeline or how long it would take to construct, one reason civic officials are not recommending it.

The second proposal is also riskier because it involves just one potential customer and would require Public Utilities Board approval, he said.

The environment committee is scheduled to consider the landfill gas proposal March 2, which would also require council approval.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga