To meet growing demand for locally produced RNG, Énergir, Québec's largest regulated gas distributor, is expanding RNG supplies across its network. The Hébertville Station’ WAGABOX® project, developed by Waga Energy in partnership with the Régie des matières résiduelles du Lac-Saint-Jean (RMR), contributes directly to this effort by transforming landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG. As Waga Energy's fifth project in Canada and fourth in Québec, it further strengthens the province's renewable energy portfolio while supporting local energy security and decarbonization goals. 

To address Québec's ambition to increase renewable gas consumption and support the province's objective of achieving 10% RNG in its distribution network by 2030 (Québec Green Economy Plan | Government of Québec, Waga Energy has partnered with the RMR to develop a RNG production project at the Hébertville Station landfill in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec. Waga Energy finances, builds, owns and operates a WAGABOX® unit that upgrades landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG.   

Under a long-term RNG purchase agreement, Énergir aquires all of the RNG produced and injects it into its distribution network, helping increase the availability of locally sourced RNG. The agreement provides a secure outlet for the RNG while supporting the long-term viability of the project. The initiative also benefits from a CA$15 million contribution from the Government of Québec, supporting the development of RNG production and distribution projects across the province.

The Hébertville project is the fourth collaboration between Waga Energy and Énergir, further strengthening a partnership dedicated to expanding RNG production in Québec. Announced in November 2024, the project will produce up to 200,000 GJ of RNG per year, equivalent to approximately 55 GWh of renewable energy.   

The project was also recognized as the 2026 Project of the Year at the Canadian Biogas Industry Awards, reflecting its contribution to the development of RNG in Canada.   

By replacing fossil natural gas with locally produced RNG, the project will avoid approximately 9,400 tonnes of fossil CO₂-equivalent emissions each year. This estimate reflects the displacement of conventional natural gas; CO₂ emissions from RNG combustion are considered biogenic and are accounted for separately in GHG inventories. 

 For illustration purposes, the RNG produced is roughly equivalent to the annual consumption of around 2,900 households across the territory served by the RMR, which includes 50 municipalities and the community of Mashteuiatsh.    

By transforming landfill gas into a renewable energy resource, the Hébertville project demonstrates how municipalities, energy distributors and technology providers can work together to reduce methane emissions, expand renewable energy production and create lasting environmental and economic value for local communities.  

The project reinforces Waga Energy's long-standing collaboration with Énergir to increase RNG production and reach the objective of 10% RNG in its distribution network by 2030. 

• Site: Hébertville Station, QC   
• Partners:  Régie des matières résiduelles du Lac-Saint-Jean (RMR), Waga Energy, Mashteuiatsh Community 
• Project developer and operator: Waga Energy   
• Technology: WAGABOX® landfill gas upgrading unit   
• Start-up date: August 2027  
• Agreement for the purchase and sale with Énergir: 20-year contract    
• Annual production capacity: up to 200 000 GJ (~55 GWh)    
• Climate impact: around 9,400 tons of fossil CO₂-equivalent emissions avoided per year  

To illustrate this end-to-end approach, Waga Energy has created a six-part video series showcasing the expertise that supports every project throughout its lifecycle. These short videos highlight the work of our teams across site assessment, project development, financing, engineering and construction, operations and maintenance, and biomethane commercialization.

Together, they provide a comprehensive overview of how Waga Energy helps landfill operators unlock the full value of their landfill gas resource through long-term partnerships and proven expertise.

Financing is strategic because investment is at the very core of our business model. We finance the construction of our biomethane production units, known as WAGABOX®, ourselves. Once operational, these units generate recurring revenue through long-term contracts (typically 10 to 20 years), either from the sale of biomethane or through a gas upgrading service provided to the landfill operator supplying the unit with biogas.

This financing includes two major innovations.

Our financial partners value our business model because it generates strong, recurring, and predictable cash flows. We operate our production units under contracts that can extend for up to 20 years.

Methane: A Local Energy Source and a Powerful Greenhouse Gas 

Methane is one of the most concerning greenhouse gases in the short term, with a global warming potential 28 times greater than CO₂ over a 100-year period. Reducing methane emissions is widely considered one of the fastest and most effective ways to combat climate change. Landfills are among the largest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions in Europe.

Converting landfill gas into biomethane not only produces renewable energy that can be injected into gas networks, but also prevents significant quantities of methane from being released into the atmosphere.

The Importance of Improving Gas Capture Performance

The energy recovery of landfill gas creates a strong economic incentive to improve gas collection efficiency. Landfill operators can invest in equipment and practices that enable greater gas recovery, including denser well networks, optimized extraction systems, leak detection programs, and early gas capture on active landfill cells. 

These improvements reduce fugitive methane emissions while increasing biomethane production. The environmental benefit is therefore twofold: more renewable energy is generated while emissions of a particularly potent greenhouse gas are reduced. 

Waga Energy’s Proposal

Based on empirical data drawn from several studies conducted across different European countries, Waga Energy proposes incorporating into RED III a reference value of −56 gCO₂eq/MJ of biomethane for biomethane produced from landfill gas, provided that advanced landfill gas collection techniques are implemented. 

This value reflects the climate benefit associated with the additional methane captured through biomethane recovery projects and the related improvements in gas collection efficiency. 

By assigning value to the methane captured, these projects encourage the adoption of advanced gas collection systems at a larger number of landfill sites and contribute to reducing landfill methane emissions. The proposal therefore aims to better reflect these emission reductions within the RED III calculation methodology. 

Contributing to REPowerEU Objectives

Through its REPowerEU plan, the European Union has set an ambitious biomethane production target to accelerate the energy transition and strengthen energy sovereignty. In this context, biomethane produced from landfill gas represents a significant yet underutilized resource. 

According to estimates presented in Waga Energy's technical contribution, this pathway could deliver between 15 and 20 TWh of annual biomethane production in Europe, representing approximately 5% of the EU's biomethane production target by 2030. 

Waga Energy’s proposal does not seek to create a new support mechanism or request additional funding. Its primary objective is to ensure a more accurate assessment of the actual climate benefits of landfill gas-to-biomethane projects within European carbon accounting frameworks. 

Such recognition would encourage the adoption of best-in-class gas capture practices, properly value the emission reductions achieved on the ground, and support the development of projects that contribute to reducing methane emissions across Europe. 

Through this contribution, Waga Energy is leveraging its industrial expertise to support the evolution of European climate policies, promoting a regulatory framework grounded in scientific evidence and operational experience.

* RED III (Renewable Energy Directive III): The 2023 revision of the European Renewable Energy Directive, which establishes strengthened targets to increase the share of renewable energy in the European energy mix and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The study compares different landfill operating practices and quantifies their environmental impact. Its findings show that currently achievable best practices, including optimized methane capture, efficient cover systems, bioreactor management and high-quality monitoring, can significantly reduce emissions generated by landfill sites. Compared with average operating conditions, the widespread adoption of these practices could reduce total direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50%.

Beyond reducing methane emissions, improved landfill gas capture can increase the recovery and utilization of renewable energy. The study highlights the environmental benefits of biomethane injection and estimates that the generalization of good practices could increase biomethane production potential in France by around 26%, from 2.1 TWh/year to 2.6 TWh/year. At the European scale, landfill biomethane could represent between 15 and 20 TWh, contributing between 5% and 10% of the REPowerEU 2030 biomethane production target. 

According to the study, the transition towards broader implementation of best practices would require an estimated investment of €3-4 per tonne of waste, corresponding to an abatement cost of around €20 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent avoided. Part of these costs could be offset through additional energy recovery, making improved landfill gas management a cost-effective option for reducing emissions while increasing renewable gas production.

The maintenance operation was prepared several weeks in advance. Tasks were identified, parts ordered, teams mobilized, and logistics organized down to the smallest detail. The previous week, containers carrying tools, personal protective equipment, and the parts required for the work were delivered to the site, along with several pallets of consumables and spare parts. Once the WAGABOX® unit is shut down, the clock starts ticking.

"Maintenance operations are scheduled every 8,000 operating hours," explains Matthieu Rouvière, one of Waga Energy's traveling maintenance team leaders. "We overhaul compressors and other equipment in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations. Our work covers both preventive maintenance and corrective operations that can be planned during the annual shutdown. Depending on the type of maintenance, the number of interventions required can vary significantly."

Beyond preventive maintenance, these planned shutdowns also provide an opportunity to upgrade units already in service. Innovations developed by Waga Energy's Research & Development and Process Engineering teams are progressively rolled out across the existing fleet.

"Innovations integrated into the latest generations of WAGABOX® units are installed on units already in operation whenever it makes sense to do so. That's what we call revamping," continues Matthieu Rouvière.

This approach reflects one of the key principles of Waga Energy's business model: the company does not simply design and install its units. It also operates, monitors, maintains, and continuously improves them throughout the duration of each contract. This comprehensive responsibility enables Waga Energy to leverage experience gained from every site, continuously improve fleet performance, and provide customers and partners with a high level of reliability.

Maintenance shutdowns may also be used to conduct regulatory inspections, particularly on pressure equipment. These inspections are carried out by an independent organization in compliance with applicable regulations. In some cases, tanks must be emptied to allow for inspections and leak-tightness tests before the unit can be returned to service.

As always at Waga Energy, safety remains the number one priority. Every day begins with a safety briefing to review procedures, identify potential risks, and coordinate activities.

"We sometimes simulate emergency situations, such as a worker becoming ill while elevated on a lift platform, to ensure the entire team remains vigilant and maintains the right reflexes," says Matthieu Rouvière.

At Chatuzange-le-Goubet, the WAGABOX® unit was brought back online after four days. The schedule was met. But the work does not end there. The following week, a lessons-learned meeting is held at headquarters. Every operation is reviewed and evaluated to identify what worked well, what could be improved, and which insights should be incorporated into future maintenance campaigns.

This continuous improvement process becomes increasingly important as the WAGABOX® fleet continues to grow. With units operating in France, Spain, Canada, and the United States, maintenance teams now work at a sustained pace. Operations follow one another continuously, sometimes with two maintenance shutdowns taking place in the same week, always driven by the same objective: work quickly, efficiently, and safely.

"We have made tremendous progress over the past few years," observes Matthieu Rouvière. "Our technicians have become highly experienced on our installations. They know these operations inside out, and everything now runs like clockwork."

Thanks to this rigorous organization, the commitment of its teams, and its complete control over the operating chain, Waga Energy is able to guarantee 95% availability across its WAGABOX® fleet. This industrial performance is at the core of Waga Energy's promise: producing more biomethane, maximizing the value created at landfill sites, and making a tangible contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the different sources of biogas available in Brazil, municipal solid waste landfills represent one of the country’s most immediate opportunities for biomethane production.

Brazil generated 81.6 million tonnes of municipal solid waste in 2024, nearly 60% of which was sent to approximately 3,850 landfill sites, including some of which are equipped with collection systems for biogas generated naturally by the decomposition of organic matter.

As organic waste decomposes, it naturally generates landfill gas. Rather than being released into the atmosphere or destroyed through flaring, this resource can be recovered and upgraded into biomethane, a renewable fuel with characteristics similar to those of natural gas.

Landfills offer several advantages for biomethane projects. They provide a continuous source of biogas, are often located close to energy consumers and already benefit from existing waste management infrastructure. These characteristics make landfill gas an attractive feedstock for large-scale renewable gas production.

In addition, capturing landfill gas delivers a double benefit: reducing greenhouse gas emissions while producing renewable energy.

By transforming an existing waste stream into a valuable local resource, landfill operators can create new opportunities for both environmental and economic value creation.

Beyond its environmental benefits, biomethane offers attractive economic opportunities across the entire value chain.

For landfill operators, biogas recovery creates new revenue streams from a resource that was long considered a by-product. It also supports local economic activity, from facility operations to the production and distribution of renewable energy.

For industrial energy users, biomethane represents a competitive alternative to fossil natural gas. Produced locally, it provides a reliable source of renewable energy while helping companies reduce their carbon footprint.

More broadly, biomethane contributes to energy security by increasing the share of domestically produced renewable gas. As energy demand continues to grow, it can help diversify supply sources and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

The biomethane sector is experiencing strong growth in Brazil. Used for injection into gas networks and for mobility applications, the market has recorded an average annual growth rate of 21% over the past five years¹. Despite the rapid increase in production capacity, its development potential remains largely untapped.

The Combustível do Futuro Law (“Fuel of the Future”, Law No. 14,993 of October 8, 2024) marked a historic milestone for biomethane. Under the legislation, all natural gas sold, imported or self-produced must contain at least 1% of biomethane, with this requirement potentially increasing to 10%. The law also introduced the Biomethane Guarantee of Origin Certificate (CGOB), enabling the certification and tracking of renewable gas volumes.

By creating a clear and predictable regulatory framework, the legislation provides long-term visibility for project developers, landfill operators and investors, creating favourable conditions for the deployment of new biomethane facilities across the country.

Despite the progress made in recent years, considerable growth potential remains. According to data from ABiogás², the number of biomethane production facilities is expected to reach 200 by 2032, with an installed capacity of 8.0 million cubic metres per day (8Mm³/day), reflecting continued investment in the sector.

Combined with the country’s abundant biogas resources and growing demand for renewable energy, these developments position biomethane as an increasingly strategic component of Brazil’s energy future.

¹Source: https://www.worldbiogasassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WBA-Market-Report-Brazil-2025.pdf

²Brazilian Biogas and Biomethane Association

To unlock this potential at scale, industrial solutions capable of upgrading biogas into biomethane efficiently and reliably are essential.

After 15 years of research and development, Waga Energy developed an innovative technology called WAGABOX®, which captures landfill gas generated from municipal solid waste and upgrades it into biomethane. This biomethane can either be injected directly into gas grids or transported to more remote locations, further expanding its market potential.

The solution enables:

• Maximum methane recovery
• Gas quality that meets grid specifications
• Continuous and high-performance operation

By combining proven landfill gas upgrading technology with a turnkey project delivery model, Waga Energy supports Brazil in reducing methane emissions and expanding its local production of renewable gas.

Brazil has the opportunity to transform one of its largest waste streams into a source of renewable energy. Converting landfill gas into biomethane is no longer only an environmental opportunity. It is becoming a strategic lever for decarbonization, energy resilience and sustainable economic development.

Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a 100% renewable energy source. It is obtained by purifying the biogas produced through the decomposition of organic matter, which includes plants, agricultural and agro-industrial waste, household waste, sewage plant sludge, and more. RNG shares an identical chemical composition and properties with fossil natural gas, enabling it to be directly injected into the existing natural gas distribution network as a fuel and utilized to power vehicles in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG).

RNG is a neutral gas in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The carbon emitted during its combustion was actually absorbed by living organisms and was already in the atmosphere when they appeared, in what is known as the short-term carbon cycle. In contrast, the use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas releases carbon into the atmosphere that has accumulated over millions of years in the Earth’s depths.

RNG contributes to the development of the circular economy. It is produced locally from organic waste and consumed by homes and businesses for heating, hot water, cooking, and transportation. It can be easily stored and transported using the existing gas infrastructure.

As a pillar of the energy transition, RNG contributes to local energy independence and replaces fossil fuels for transportation and heating, which account for the bulk of our energy needs and the largest share of our greenhouse gas emissions.

The production and consumption of renewable natural gas emits just 23.4 g CO₂-eq/kWh NCV¹, 10 times less than fossil natural gas that is extracted from underground and imported.

As a fuel, RNG makes it possible to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by up to 90%, compared with natural gas, gasoline, or diesel.

¹ The net calorific value (NCV) corresponds to the quantity of heat released during combustion per unit of volume or mass, without considering the energy supplied by the steam produced based on French data.

The facts

The decomposition of organic matter at landfill sites is one of the main causes of methane (CH₄) emissions released into the atmosphere, accounting for 5% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. This powerful greenhouse gas has a global warming potential 86 times greater than that of CO₂ over 20 years. According to the IMF, methane responsible for about 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the beginning of the industrial era (1850-1900).

According to the World Bank, humanity produces nearly 2 billion tons of solid municipal waste (organic matter and other domestic waste, waste from offices, businesses, and building sites) every year. As the global population rises, this volume of waste is expected to grow by 70% by 2050.

A huge reservoir of renewable energy

More countries are introducing proactive policies to encourage the production of RNG, enabling the sector to develop quickly. For example, the European Union has doubled its biomethane (also known as renewable natural gas) production targets, through the REPowerEU program, aiming for an annual volume of 35 billion cubic meters by 2030. By 2050, the EU is targeting biomethane production of 900 TWh, compared with 40 TWh in 2022.

The EU and the U.S. alone account for almost 90% of this increase. The U.S., the world’s largest biomethane producer since 2019, has seen significant growth of 20%, reaching 2 billion cubic meters in 2022 (i.e., almost 30% of global production), while the European Union has increase biomethane production by 15% to reach almost 4 billion cubic meters in 2022.

In France, biomethane production has risen by about 65% over 2021, to 0.65 billion cubic meters, making it the second-largest producer of biomethane in Europe.

In a July 2022 study on the outlook for biomethane production in EU Member States, the Gas for Climate consortium estimates that the countries with the highest production potential in 2050 are: France (22 billion m³ per year), Germany (22 billion m³ per year), Spain (20 billion m³ per year), and Italy (14 billion m³ per year).