Sustainability of Life: Access to Energy
Sustainability does not only involve consideration for the future. Sustainability is the meeting of our own needs today, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs in the future.
In the developed world (the fortunate half), access to reliable energy maintains economic growth and social stability. This is not the case for the developing world. Most people in the developing world live in a state of energy poverty. They barely have enough energy to heat their homes or cook their food. Often, a choice has to be made between the two. Rarely is there reliable or affordable energy for economic growth and social stability. Without access to energy, this half of the world will remain in a state of energy poverty. In desperation, they will burn every last tree standing to stay warm and cook their food.
CanaGas believes that its type-4 technology holds great potential to reduce energy poverty in the world. Its ITMs will provide affordable access to natural gas and LPG using the world’s existing intermodal infrastructure. Sustainability in action!
We now know that the transition to renewable energy will take a long time. During this transition, the people of the world will still need energy. Preferably, affordable and reliable energy. CanaGas will therefore strive to provide low-cost access to LPG and natural gas to the communities of the developing world.
RNG as a Sustainable Fuel
We believe that over time, natural gas taken from reservoirs and shale deposits will give way to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) made at the surface. As our children are educated on how to make and contain RNG, the sustainable production of natural gas will become common practice. We therefore believe that natural gas will be a forever fuel.
RNG is derived from biogas which, is produced from the decomposition of organic materials, food waste, and sewage. Food waste, and sewage are easily sourced in urban settings. However, large volumes of organic matter are more easily sourced in rural or remote locations. The largest sources being farms and forestry operations. Manure from animals is one of the largest potential sources for biogas throughout the world.
RNG is growing fast in the developed world. However, most new bio-digesters and CO2 extraction facilities are established where there is an existing tie-in to a natural gas distribution line. The collected CO2 is then trucked to a sequestration site.
The current practice leaves an enormous amount of potential biogas from decaying biomass from being captured and used, especially in rural and remote locations. Instead, that decaying biomass emits massive amounts of methane and CO2 into the atmosphere; a very large source of greenhouse gas emissions. If we can capture and contain that biogas, and use the produced methane to empower rural and remote communities, we could significantly reduce energy poverty in the world. And, drive towards net zero. This is an environmental problem that CanaGas believes can be turned into a Sustainable Solution.
Using CanaGas type-4 pressure vessels, dehydrated biogas can be easily stored as a liquid by compressing and chilling it. The power required for liquefaction can come from an advanced engine design that will burn methane gas with up to 10% CO2. CanaGas has developed a low cost way to get the concentration of CO2 in biogas below that 10% threshold. Engine/ generator sets up to 6 kWh are available, leaving lots of extra power for the community; when it needs it the most.
In rural and remote communities of the the developing world, raw biogas can be used as fuel in stovetop burners to cook food. Very low-cost heaters will burn biogas without the potential of asphyxiation in the home.
Where biogas is produced, the capture of the methane makes it carbon-equivalent negative. Unfortunately, the CO2 produced from burning that methane brings it back up to carbon neutral. Where the CO2 can be sequestered or utilized, the produced methane would become carbon-negative.
Excess biogas can be transported in an ITM to a centrally located upgrade facility for removal of the CO2. If applicable, the liquid CO2 may then be transported for sequestration or commercial use. The remaining methane would then be carbon-negative, even after it was burned to create electricity.
As the RNG produced at an upgrade facility would already be cold, it may be further chilled to be liquefied as P-LNG for transport. That chill energy could be pulled from the CO2 that was removed at the facility. The energy is transferred, not lost.
Governance
With a focus on making the world a better place to live, both today and tomorrow, CanaGas is proud of its environmental and sustainability governance. When looking to the horizon, we keep a balanced view between environmental protection and the sustainability of people. In looking beyond the horizon, we plan, strive, and hope, that the two will become one.
