A new renewable natural gas facility at the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is set to go into full commercial operation next month.
The facility takes biogas — a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process — and treats it to produce renewable natural gas. The gas will be sold to FortisBC, and is expected to heat 400 to 600 homes. It will be the first time Metro Vancouver is using water scrubbing technology to clean the biogas at one of its wastewater treatment plants — a method that is chemical free, self-contained, and environmentally friendly.
This green project is just one example of Metro Vancouver’s commitment to managing liquid waste in a manner that protects human health and the environment while using liquid waste as a resource. Excess biogas that otherwise would have been burned will now be used as renewable natural gas, generating carbon credits and a revenue stream for the corporation. Metro Vancouver expects that once this system is operational, flaring of excess biogas at the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant will be minimal.
The success of this project is a result of collaborative efforts with external organizations such as FortisBC.
