Skyline Clean Energy Fund Buys Lethbridge Biogas Plant

On May 31, 2022, Skyline Clean Energy Fund acquired a biogas facility located in Lethbridge, Alberta through the purchase of 100% of the units in Lethbridge Biogas LP and the shares in Lethbridge Biogas General Partner Inc.

The Lethbridge facility is expected to convert 120,000 tonnes of organic waste into renewable natural gas annually. The facility generates revenue primarily through the intake of organic waste and producing Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). 

The asset operates under a 20-year RNG contract with FortisBC. 

“The Skyline Clean Energy Fund team is thrilled to announce the acquisition of another biogas facility into our portfolio,” said Rob Stein, President, Skyline Energy. 

“This asset is SCEF’s first outside of Ontario, as well as its largest acquisition to date and the first to earn income from RNG sales. SBE LP, along with Woolwich Bio-En Inc., which manages the Elmira, Ontario biogas facility, will be able to provide oversight and knowledge that will enable future synergies between the two biogas plants. We’re excited to add more clean energy facilities to the SCEF portfolio to complement our existing assets, with the goal of increasing value for SCEF investors.” 

“The Canadian Biogas Association congratulates Skyline on their recent acquisition of Lethbridge Biogas,” said Jennifer Green, Executive Director, Canadian Biogas Association.  

“As the Canadian biogas and RNG market grows, the success of operating biogas and RNG facilities will be instrumental in demonstrating the great value that is provided to Canadians in emission reductions, clean energy production, and economic opportunity.” 

The Lethbridge facility is expected to process 120,000 tonnes of organic waste in the first year, producing 280,000 GJ(1) of RNG. 

This is equivalent to more than 78 million kilowatt-hours – which would provide electricity to 12,174 homes for one year. (2)  

Together with SCEF’s biogas facility in Elmira, Ontario (purchased August 2021), SCEF is now responsible for facilities capable of receiving 240,000 tonnes of organic waste – equivalent to the annual food waste produced by more than 566,000 Canadians. (3) 

Skyline Clean Energy Fund now comprises 76 clean energy assets: 74 solar assets totaling 38.356 MW/DC(4) and two biogas facilities totaling 184,000 tonnes in annual Organic Waste Capacity. (5)  

(1) Gigajoule (GJ) is a metric energy measurement used for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). One GJ of natural gas has the same amount of energy as 27 liters of fuel oil, 39 liters of propane, 26 liters of gasoline, or 277-kilowatt hours of electricity. Source: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/energy-sources-distribution/natural-gas/natural-gas-primer/5641 

(2) The number of homes powered was determined by dividing the total amount of energy (kWh) produced at the Lethbridge facility by the energy intensity per Alberta household in kWh, which was derived from the total electricity consumption divided by the total number of Alberta households. Source: https://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/statistics/neud/dpa/menus/trends/comprehensive_tables/list.cfm   

(3) Annual food waste equivalency was derived by dividing total Canadian waste diverted and disposed of by total biogas facility capacity. Total Canadian waste is calculated by adding waste diverted from residential sources and waste disposed of residential sources then converting it from kg to tonnes. Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/solid-waste-diversion-disposal.html#DSM  

(4) MW/DC: Megawatt of direct current energy; a unit measurement of the output of power. 

(5) Skyline Clean Energy Fund’s total MW/DC (solar) and annual Organic Waste Capacity (biogas) figures are expressed in accordance with the Fund’s percentage ownership of the assets. 

”One of Canada’s largest biogas providers” based on an annual waste processing capacity of 240,000 tonnes between Skyline Clean Energy Fund’s Elmira and Lethbridge facilities.