Port of Montreal’s Grand Quay reaches 100% renewable energy target with renewable natural gas

The Port of Montreal’s Grand Quay is beating its carbon footprint goals with renewable natural gas (RNG) distributed by Énergir, a key player in Quebec’s energy transition.

The Grand Quay, operated by the Montreal Port Authority, is now supplied by 100% renewable energy after the Port Authority switched from fossil natural gas, previously used for heating and cooking systems in the Grand Quay’s event rentals, to renewable natural gas earlier this year.

“The (Port Authority) is fully engaged in decarbonizing its operations to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 and meet the ambitious objectives of the Montreal Climate Partnership,” said Benoit Viens, senior director for real estate and environment for the Port Authority, in a press release.

“RNG is one of the most attractive solutions to achieve this quickly. Our Grand Quay is a showcase of our pledge to adopt best practices in sustainable development, and thanks to RNG, we’re entering a new stage in substantially decreasing the carbon footprint of our buildings.”

Located at 200 De la Commune Street West, the Grand Quay has a number of venues available for private and public large-scale events, including the Port of Montreal Tower, the 3,500 m2 cruise terminal, the pavilion on the green roof and the port centre.

The switch to RNG makes it possible for organizers to greatly improve the carbon footprint of their events at the Port of Montreal’s Grand Quay. The Port Authority said there is growing demand from cruise lines and event organizers for renewable energy to improve their carbon footprint.

“Énergir is committed to developing the RNG sector in Quebec to increase the quantities in its network, so that its customers can count on a range of energy solutions in their decarbonization journey,” said Brigitte Samson, senior executive director for customer energy solutions at Énergir, in the release.

“By replacing fossil natural gas with RNG, the (Port Authority) was able to quickly switch to an entirely renewable energy supply for the Grand Quay’s rental event spaces, and thus improve its carbon footprint. We are proud to have collaborated with their teams to develop a game plan that would not only meet their needs, but actively contribute to achieving their decarbonization targets.”

What is RNG?

RNG is a renewable source of energy produced 100% from organic waste that helps cut greenhouse gas emissions.

By capturing biogas from landfill sites or through a process of biomethanization, organic matter (food residues, liquid manure, manure, wastewater, etc.) is turned into biogas which, once purified, becomes renewable natural gas.

Biogas has a positive impact in two ways: it replaces fossil energy with renewable energy, and it recovers the methane emissions associated with burying organic waste in landfill sites. By opting for RNG, there’s no need to change equipment. It allows to keep costs down, while accelerating the energy transition.

About the Port of Montreal

Operated by the Montreal Port Authority, the Port of Montreal is the largest container port in Eastern Canada and a diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods: containerized and non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk.

The only container port in Quebec, it is a destination port served by the largest shipping lines in the world. It is also an intermodal hub with a service offering that is unique in North America, featuring its own rail network directly dockside connected to Canada’s two national rail networks. The MPA also operates a cruise terminal and a port centre.

The MPA factors economic, social and environmental components into its corporate initiatives. This commitment is governed by a sustainable development policy whose guiding principles focus on involvement, cooperation and accountability. Port activity in Canada supports some 590,000 jobs and generates $93.5 billion in economic activity.