Waga Energy and Matrec-GFL have commissioned a biomethane production unit on a closed waste storage site in Chicoutimi. The biomethane produced is injected into the network of Quebec energy provider Énergir, and will contribute directly to the Quebec government’s decarbonization objectives.
Operated between 1998 and 2017, the site continues to produce biogas from decomposing waste. Thanks to WAGABOX® technology, this biogas is now valorized in the form of biomethane and injected directly into the Energir network. In this way, Waga Energy and Matrec-GFL are helping to achieve the objective of injecting 10% renewable gas into Energir’s gas network by 2030, as part of the Quebec government’s Plan for a Green Economy.
The WAGABOX® unit will produce 54,600 MMBtu (16 GWh) of biomethane each year, avoiding the emission of over 2,500 tonnes of CO2 eq. Matrec-GFL has granted Waga Energy the right to exploit the biogas for 10 years, and the two companies will share the revenues generated by biomethane production at the site.
The project has received C$7.1 million in government subsidies, underlining the growing importance of biomethane production in the energy transition. Two other units are currently under construction in Canada, confirming Waga Energy’s commitment to sustainable development.
This is the second WAGABOX® unit started up by Waga Energy in Quebec. Two other units are under construction in Canada, one in the Brome-Missisquoi region, the other in British Columbia; six units are also under construction in the United States.
“Together, we will write a new chapter where innovation and commitment combine to shape the RNG trajectory as a pillar of the energy transition, by participating in the development of the local economy while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Congratulations to the devoted teams who worked with passion and ingenuity to bring this project to life.”
Julie Flynn, Chair and CEO of the Waga Energy Canadian subsidiary.
“We are proud to collaborate with Waga Energy for the commissioning of a biogas recovery unit at our now-closed landfill site at Chicoutimi. We are promoting a novel initiative to reduce greenhouse gases and produce renewable energy by giving new life to buried waste. Matrec-GFL’s commitment to sustainability is deeply anchored in each of its projects and we are delighted to be the incarnation of responsible management of final waste and to be Green for life.”
Jean-Philippe Laliberté, Matrec‑GFL SVP of landfill and composting operations – East Canada.
“There is no doubt: the RNG sector is more active than ever in Quebec! We are as proud as ever to see new projects here take shape and go into production. This is the case for Waga Energy, at Chicoutimi, which is the 7th project in Quebec to inject RNG into our grid. This is a promising project for Quebec and the result of successful collaboration with our partners Waga Energy and GFL Environmental. Their cutting-edge expertise and their vision are not only changing the shape of the RNG sector, but they also enable us to come closer to our objective of injecting 5% RNG into the gas grid by 2025.”
Renault Lortie, VP in charge of customers and gas procurement at Énergir.