Renewable natural gas (RNG) is methane made from organic waste, such as landfills, manure, food scraps and wastewater, and cleaned up so it's chemically the same as the natural gas in your furnace. Because it's interchangeable, RNG can flow through existing pipelines and be burned in existing appliances. It reduces emissions mainly by capturing methane that would otherwise escape and by displacing fossil gas. The limit is supply: there isn't enough organic waste to replace most of the fossil gas Canada uses today.
Key takeaways
- RNG starts as biogas from decomposing organic matter, then is upgraded to pipeline-quality methane.
- It works in existing furnaces, water heaters and gas vehicles with no modifications.
- Its biggest climate benefit often comes from capturing methane from waste that would otherwise leak to the atmosphere.
- RNG generally costs more than fossil gas, and supply is limited relative to total gas demand.
- Several provinces and utilities, notably in Quebec and British Columbia, are blending growing amounts of RNG into their systems.
How RNG is made
Step 1: Produce biogas
Organic material breaks down without oxygen (anaerobic digestion) and produces biogas, typically about 50–65% methane, with most of the rest being carbon dioxide plus traces of water, hydrogen sulphide and other compounds. Main sources:
| Source | How the gas is collected | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Landfills | Wells and pipes pull gas from buried waste | Largest RNG source in many regions |
| Farm digesters | Manure and crop waste in sealed tanks | Also produces digestate, a fertilizer |
| Municipal organics | Green bin food and yard waste in digesters | Growing as cities expand organics collection |
| Wastewater plants | Sludge digesters | Many plants already capture biogas for on-site heat |
Step 2: Upgrade to RNG
Raw biogas is cleaned by removing CO₂, moisture and contaminants until it's about 95% methane or more, meeting pipeline specifications. Common methods include membrane separation, pressure swing adsorption and water scrubbing.
Step 3: Inject and deliver
The RNG is compressed, odourized, metered and injected into the gas grid, or used directly as compressed or liquefied vehicle fuel. Once in the pipeline, it mixes with fossil gas. Utilities track RNG volumes with contracts and certificates rather than physical molecules.
Why RNG can cut emissions
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, many times stronger than CO₂ over the short term. RNG helps in two ways:
- Capturing methane from landfills, manure lagoons and digesters that would otherwise escape.
- Displacing fossil gas, so the CO₂ released when RNG burns comes from recently living material rather than fossil carbon.
Lifecycle emissions vary widely. RNG from manure that would otherwise emit methane can score very well, even below zero on a lifecycle basis in some accounting methods. RNG from purpose-grown crops scores less well. Leaks along the gas system still matter for both. Our carbon page explains lifecycle emissions in more depth.
RNG in Canada
Canadian interest in RNG has grown quickly over the past decade:
- Quebec has required gas distributors to include a minimum share of renewable gas, rising over time, with plans to reach around 10% by 2030.
- British Columbia's main gas utility has been increasing renewable gas in its supply and offering it to customers, including in new buildings.
- Ontario and other provinces have voluntary RNG programs and growing numbers of landfill and farm projects.
- Municipalities across the country upgrade biogas from landfills and wastewater plants, often to fuel their own fleets.
Programs and targets evolve, so check your province guide and utility for the latest.
The limits of RNG
RNG is valuable but not a full replacement for natural gas:
- Supply. Estimates generally suggest that available waste could replace only a modest share of today's total gas use, even with major build-out.
- Cost. RNG typically costs several times more to produce than fossil gas. Optional RNG programs usually add a premium to your bill.
- Competing uses. RNG may deliver more value in hard-to-electrify sectors such as industrial heat, heavy transport and peak heating than in home furnaces, where heat pumps are an efficient alternative.
- Methane leaks. Leaks in production and distribution erode the benefit, regardless of where the methane came from.
- Air pollutants. Burning RNG produces the same nitrogen oxides as burning fossil gas.
What RNG means for homeowners
If you heat with natural gas, RNG may already be part of what you burn in small amounts, depending on your province. Some utilities let customers opt in to a higher RNG share for an extra charge.
How it compares with other choices:
- Staying on gas with RNG: No equipment changes, but higher fuel costs and limited supply.
- Switching to a heat pump: Higher upfront cost, much lower emissions on most Canadian grids, and no reliance on gas supply. See our geothermal and heat pump hub.
- Hybrid (dual-fuel): A heat pump handles most of the season, with a gas furnace for the coldest days. A small amount of gas, possibly including RNG, covers the peaks.
Our whole-home energy guide walks through how to sequence these choices.
Frequently asked questions
Is renewable natural gas the same as natural gas?
Chemically, yes. Both are mostly methane, so RNG can use the same pipes and appliances. The difference is the source: RNG comes from recent organic waste rather than fossil deposits.
Is RNG better than biogas?
RNG is upgraded biogas. Raw biogas is fine for on-site boilers or generators, but it must be cleaned to become RNG before it can go into the pipeline.
Can I buy RNG for my home?
In some provinces, your gas utility offers an RNG option or already blends it into supply. Check with your utility for availability and the cost premium.
The bottom line
Renewable natural gas turns waste methane into useful energy and fits straight into existing gas infrastructure, which makes it a valuable tool. But supply is limited and costs are higher, so RNG works best as one part of the solution, focused where alternatives are hardest, alongside efficiency, heat pumps and other renewables. Our bioenergy overview puts RNG in context with other biomass options.
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