Electricity & Heat

Electricity sales in BC

Anaerobic digestion systems owners in BC can sell their renewable electricity to BC Hydro under:

The Net Metering Program, or
The Standing Offer Program.

Net Metering Program
BC Hydro’s Net Metering Program (available to project with a rated capacity of 50 kW or less) allows residential and commercial customers in BC to easily sell surplus electricity they generate back to BC Hydro. In other words, when customers produce more electricity than they consume, BC Hydro credits this to their account to be applied against future consumption charges. At an anniversary date, the customer will be credited for any excess generation at a price of 8.16 cents/kWh

For more information on the Net Metering Program, please click here

Standing Offer Program
BC Hydro’s Standing Offer Program encourages development of renewable energy projects with a rated capacity of 50kW - 15MW. While the contractual agreements, regulatory requirements and interconnection studies are much more stringent than the Net Metering Program, the price paid for electricity is also higher.

Program price by region
Region Vancouver Island Lower Mainland Kelly/Nicola Central Interior
$/MWh 102.25 103.69 97.02 99.26

Region Peace Region North Coast S. Interior East Kootenay
$/MWh 94.86 96.17 98.98 102.18

For more information on the Standing Offer Program, please click here or view the document on the right-hand of this page

Feasibility Study - Anaerobic Digester and Gas Processing Facility in the Fraser Valley, BC

In 2007, the BC Bioproducts Association lead a multi industry and agency initiative to assess the feasibility of establishing an AD and co-generation/gas processing facility in the Fraser Valley that utilizes organic waste created from agricultural, food and fish processing, distribution, wholesale and retail activities. The key findings of the final report were that AD:

Could reduce GHG emissions by > 300,000 tonnes CO2eqv/yr,
Could create over $56 million in annual revenue and 600 jobs,
Could produce 50 MW of electricity (enough for over 50,000 homes),
Could reduce odour-related conflicts,
While not solving excess nutrient issues directly, could enable investments in nutrient extraction technologies,
Is more likely to be successful in the short term (due to BC’s current energy market), if the biogas is upgraded to biomethane, and
Is not currently possible or feasible due to economic and regulatory barriers.

For a copy of the report, please see the document on the right hand side of this page.

Biogas Use