Alberta, Canada, looks to encourage growth of biodigester, biogas industries

To encourage more biodigesters and biogas plants, the Alberta, Canada, government intends to clarify rules related to the handling of waste the facilities produce. 

As reported by the Calgary Herald, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson tabled Bill 44, the Agricultural Operation Practices Amendment Act, in the legislature March 18.

The act plans to move current rules for managing digestates, a waste product produced by anaerobic digesters, from a memorandum of understanding (MOA) into the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA). According to the province, the act lacks clarity on how organic material can be managed. This can lead to regulatory uncertainty for agricultural operations that store and use digestate generated from manure, especially given the growing private sector interest in anaerobic digesters or biogas plants. 

“Changes will provide this emerging industry with regulatory certainty to do business and potentially create jobs in rural Alberta,” Sigurdson said during a March 16 news conference. “And with access to abundant inputs from livestock operations, our province will be an attractive place for investment in the biogas industry.”

Alberta Beef Producers vice-chair Kent Holowath said Tuesday the organization “fully supports” the proposed changes, saying they will help unlock new income streams for producers while also “contributing to Alberta’s energy future.”

“With the challenges Alberta farmers face today — with drought, unpredictable markets and the constant threat of tariffs—our margins are under pressure like never before,” Holowath said.

Chad Meunier, a Barrhead-area cattle feeder and an Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association board member, said investing in biodigesters is a “win-win” for cattle feeders and the environment, as biodigesters capture methane from manure, reducing emissions for the sector while also creating renewable energy.

“This is a positive step for our industry to be more sustainable for future generations,” he said during the news conference.