MONTREAL, Aug. 14,
2024 /CNW/ - The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) is
pleased to announce that since January 1,
2024, the Port of Montreal's Grand Quay has been surpassing a
carbon footprint milestone it set by opting for a new energy supply
solution. By adding renewable natural gas (RNG) distributed by
Énergir to its energy sources, the building is now supplied with
100% renewable energy.
Improving the carbon footprint of events
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 MPA chose to shift from fossil natural gas, previously used
for heating and cooking systems in the Grand Quay's event rentals,
to renewable natural gas. This 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.
A long-term vision
This initiative is part of the MPA's commitment to positively
help bring about a sustainable future and environment, in line with
its stated goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. What's
more, it meets the growing demand from cruise lines and event
organizers for renewable energy and how to improve their carbon
footprint.
The Port of Montreal's Grand
Quay is a shining example of eco-responsible property development,
because it integrated several remarkable sustainable development
components during the project to rehabilitate the former
Alexandra Pier and Cruise Terminal.
They include:
- Installation of one of the largest green roofs in the city,
featuring 24,000 plants and a long boardwalk
- Landscaping of a lawn and lowering the quay to bring it closer
to the river
- Introduction of shore power for cruise ships visiting
Montreal, enabling them to turn
off their engines during their stopover and in by doing so, limit
their GHG emissions
It is also noteworthy that the Port of Montreal's Grand Quay uses a Solucycle robot
to collect and process its organic waste, making for optimized
waste management.
The Port of Montreal's Grand
Quay received the Corps Public award at the 2019 Gala Montréal
durable, for its outstanding positive impact in terms of
sustainable development, its landscaping, its shore power system
and its approach to community outreach.
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.
Quotes
"The MPA is fully engaged in decarbonizing its operations to
achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 and meet the ambitious objectives
of the Montreal Climate Partnership. 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,"
said Benoit Viens, Senior Director,
Real Estate and Environment, at the MPA.
"Energir 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. By replacing
fossil natural gas with RNG, the MPA 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," explains Brigitte Samson, Senior Executive Director,
Customer Energy Solutions & Services, at Énergir.
About the Port of Montreal
Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), 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.
SOURCE Montreal Port Authority