This past week, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) awarded a further 510 contracts under the feed-in tariff program, which included 20 biogas plants!

The rapid growth already happening in Ontario biogas has got me excited about the potential over the next 3-5 years. The total number of operating biogas installations in Ontario will grow by 267% by the end of this year to 22, and is expected to double to 47 by the end 2011 (based on the number of on- and off-farm biogas applications received by the OPA since October). The potential for 1,700 to exist within five years time means that there’s going to be plenty of work for everyone.

Another sign that we are in for a period of serious growth is the entrance of a joint venture between G.E. and AES Corp. a coal heavy US power producer, who purchased StormFisher Biogas in February. StormFisher was the most well financed of all the players in the Ontario biogas market up to this point – the addition of these established players with deep pockets is further evidence of the legitimacy and potential of this market right now.

photo credit: MissNatalie