You will soon see a new facility in southern New Brunswick turning dairy farm manure and aquaculture fish waste into natural gas. The provincial government gave environmental impact assessment approval to Bio Voltex for a new plant in Penobsquis. The approval process took just five months. As reported by CBC News, the company plans to start construction next month.

Turning Waste into Energy

The plant processes 135,000 tonnes of waste each year to produce 200,000 gigajoules of natural gas. Bio Voltex partner Scott Walton explains the process simply.

“Basically, the material will decompose, it’ll release methane, we’ll clean up that gas and then inject it into the pipeline,” Walton said.

The gas stays in New Brunswick. NB Power is currently in discussions with Bio Voltex to use this fuel for electricity generation. This partnership helps offset emissions from other fossil fuel projects. The plant reduces provincial emissions by the equivalent of 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

Strict Conditions and Community Feedback

The province attached 17 conditions to the approval. The government requires Bio Voltex to create an environmental management plan to handle potential issues with odour, air quality, water quality, and noise. The approval mandates the company to replace any affected local water supplies at its own expense.

Some residents worry about the smell. Maisie McNaughton campaigned against bad odours from a former shellfish processing plant in Richibucto.

“If you have 135,000 tonnes of things like cow manure and fish byproduct, that’s very concerning in my mind,” McNaughton said.

Bio Voltex insists the plant uses best practices from global facilities that emit no detectable odours. The company also addressed concerns from the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee regarding water runoff and biodiversity. Bio Voltex confirmed the site sits beyond aquatic buffer zones and stormwater does not discharge into local wetlands. Indigenous groups, including the Mi’kmaw group MTI and the Wolastoqey Nation, reviewed the project and see no issues.

Construction Timeline

Bio Voltex secured waste supply contracts with seven farms and aquaculture companies across New Brunswick. The plant also produces fertilizer as a byproduct to send back to these farms. Walton states final planning and permitting wraps up quickly. Grading and trenching begin this fall. Construction finishes in about a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the new biogas plant located?

The plant is located on unzoned agricultural land off Highway 114 in Penobsquis, New Brunswick.

What does the biogas plant do?

It converts dairy farm manure and aquaculture fish waste into natural gas and fertilizer.

Will the plant create bad odours in the community?

If you live in the area, you will be glad to know the province requires Bio Voltex to follow a strict environmental management plan. The company states the facility design uses global best practices to prevent detectable odours.

Who uses the natural gas produced?

The gas remains in New Brunswick. NB Power is in discussions to purchase the gas to generate electricity.