Program
Tuesday, October 8th
7:30 - 8:30 am Breakfast & Registration
8:30 - 8:45 am Welcome to 2024 Value of Biogas West!
Opening remarks to 2024 Value of Biogas West.
8:45 - 9:15 am Director’s Fireside Chat: Canada’s Biogas & RNG Opportunity Despite continued growth, Canada is still only achieving < 15% of its available biogas and RNG potential. Join our discussion to learn more about what can and is being done to support biogas and RNG development in Canada.
9:15 - 10:00 am What’s New & Exciting: Showcasing Projects
As Canada’s biogas and RNG industry continues to grow, projects are being developed, commissioned or retrofitted. This session will provide details about some of these projects.
- Co-Digestion to Achieve a Circular Economy in Petawawa (Conor Marko, Anaergia Integrated Systems);
- Designing a High-Solids Agricultural Feedstock Biogas Plant (Tom Ferencevic, Fitec Biogas); and
- Transforming Municipal Wastewater Facilities into Energy Hubs (Wesley Muir, Veolia North America).
10:00 - 10:15 am Meet Our Exhibitors (Part 1)
It takes knowledge experts to build biogas and RNG projects. This quick introduction to our exhibitors will help you identify what products, services, and guidance are here to help.
10:15 - 11:00 am Networking & Refreshments
11:00 - 11:45 am Feedstock Sourcing
The old adage of ‘build it and they will come’ has often been used when discussing feedstock. As Canada’s biogas and RNG industry grows, is this still the case? This panel will discuss this issue, and potential policy changes that could make feedstock sourcing easier.
- Travis Woollings, Cornerstone Renewables; and
- John van Logtenstein, Dairy Lane Systems.
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Looking Outside the RNG Box
RNG isn’t the only renewable gas in town, while co-production can improve feasibility. Learn how methane pyrolysis and fluidized bed gasification can contribute towards Canada’s transition to a decarbonized energy supply.
- Pulp & Paper Natural Gas Substitution Using Biomass Gasification Technology (Wei Wang, Highbury Energy); and
- Leverage RNG to Generate Green Hydrogen Gas and Carbon Nanotubes (Fenglou Zou, Volta Energy).
12:15 - 12:30 pm Meet Our Exhibitors (Part 2)
It takes knowledge experts to build biogas and RNG projects. This quick introduction to our exhibitors will help you identify what products, services, and guidance are here to help.
12:30 - 2:00 pm Lunch & Networking
2:00 - 2:15 pm FortisBC: Remarks from Presenting Sponsor
2:15 - 2:45 pm B.C.’s Regulatory Landscape
Knowing the regulatory landscape is key to success. Join us to hear about recent changes to B.C.’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation, and learn about important regulations and permitting requirements for building biogas plants in B.C.:
- B.C.’s Commitment to Renewable Gas Development: Creating Demand for Biogas (Guy Gensey, B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation); and
- Project Risks - Knowing the Regulatory Landscape (Ryan Milligan, Technical Safety BC).
2:45 - 3:30 pm Carbon Dioxide Liquefaction
The opportunity to generate additional revenue from upgrader exhaust gas is growing. Hear from industry insiders and end users about the opportunities and challenges of accessing the liquid carbon dioxide market with non-traditional sources:
- Cecilie Soerensen, Ammongas; and
- Jonathan Bos, Village Farms.
3:30 - 4:15 pm Networking & Refreshments
4:15 - 5:00 pm The Importance of Feedstock Pre-Treatment & Start-Up
Feedstock isn’t always clean or simple to digest, while inoculum choice can impact start-up. These presentations will provide insights into different ways to maximise biogas potential:
- Unlocking the Potential of Municipal Solid Waste (Joe Ayala, ECONWARD TECH);
- Inoculum Selection for Start-Up of CSTRs: Economic and Operational Insights (Amal Hmaissia, Laval University); and
- Boosting Methane Production with Novel Delignified Feedstock (Corynne Ofarrell, SixRing).
5:00 - 5:30 pm Learning from Denmark’s Experiences
RNG accounts for nearly 40% of gas used in Denmark. Join us to learn about Danish expertise in blending targets and policies, and what regulators and utilities can do to support Canada’s RNG industry:
- Christian Bendrup Faurholt and Alexander Ripley (Royal Danish Embassy).
5:30 - 7:30 pm Networking Reception
All attendees are invited to the 2024 Value of Biogas West Networking Reception. Join us for a drink and appetizers while connecting with industry peers.
Wednesday, October 9th
7:30 - 8:30 am Breakfast & Registration
8:30 - 9:15 am Carbon Intensity Calculations & Changes
Carbon intensity (CI) is the most direct determinant of RNG credit value within low-carbon fuel programs. Join our panel to learn more about the intricacies of CI calculations and updated modeling specifications released by Environment and Climate Change Canada:
- Nikan Nadimi, Carbonik Firm Inc.; and
- Sam Wright, Anew Climate.
9:15 - 10:00 am Economic Factors That Drive Project Success
Revenue generation, risk management and financing are interrelated. Hear why these three aspects are considered key to project success and why they should be aligned.
10:00 - 10:45 am Networking & Refreshments
10:45 – 11:30 am Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Knowledge and experience are required to successfully take a biogas project from concept to reality. These panelists will discuss approaches to maximize chances of success and avoid costly mistakes:
- Giovanni Guerrero, CEM Engineering; and
- Allen MacKinnon, SysAdvance Technologies North America.
11:30 am - 12:15 pm Importance of Technical Expertise
The need for and potential lack of technical expertise can constrain a growing industry. Listen as this panel discuss both the importance of, and requirement to foster appropriate biogas expertise:
- Sam Huang, Tetra Tech;
- Trisha Aldovino, Azura Associates; and
- Jason Bridges, Terravest Renewables.
12:15 - 1:00 pm Test Your Biogas & RNG Knowledge
As we wrap up 2024 Value of Biogas West, join this interactive session to test your knowledge and gather information for 2025 Value of Biogas East!
- Jennifer Green (CBA).
1:00 - 2:00 pm Lunch and Networking