Technical summary: Turning Waste into Low-Carbon Fuel in Northern Canada
A Collaborative Study by Polar Knowledge Canada and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Polar Knowledge Canada and the Clean Energy Innovation research centre of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) worked together to explore how organic waste, such as food scraps and commercial food waste, can be transformed into renewable energy for Canadian Northern communities. The study focused on the anaerobic digestion process, which uses microorganisms to break down organic materials and produce a renewable gas known as biogas, which is a low-carbon fuel that can be used to replace fossil fuels. The biogas can be combusted directly to produce heat or electricity or be used with diesel in dual-fuel generators. By using this technology, remote communities could reduce their dependence on diesel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and alleviate other impacts associated with waste management.
The research was carried out over four years, from 2021 to 2024, and included laboratory testing at NRC and at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. The goal was to design a system that would work well in the unique conditions of Canadian Northern communities, including a compact and efficient design that is able to convert organic waste available locally. Researchers developed a two-step process that first used a mechanical screw press to extract and concentrate organic material into a liquid suitable for conversion, and then used a high-rate anaerobic digester to produce biogas from that liquid. This new approach made it possible to reduce the time needed to treat food waste by as much as five to fifteen times compared to traditional systems. The result was a smaller, more practical setup that could fit the needs of remote locations. At the same time, the team worked on modifying a conventional diesel generator so that it could run on a combination of diesel and biogas. This dual-fuel generator was able to replace up to 20 percent of the diesel normally used with simulated biogas, showcasing the potential for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and offering a more sustainable source of electricity for the community.
Tests done in laboratory confirmed that several sources of organic waste from Cambridge Bay could be efficiently converted into biogas. The system design proved well-suited to Northern conditions, showing that renewable energy can indeed be produced locally from everyday waste materials. Also, the dual-fuel generator demonstrated that biogas can effectively replace part of the diesel needed for electricity generation, helping reduce fuel use and environmental impact. A six-month pilot test at CHARS confirmed that the proposed process could reliably convert a mixture of organic wastes into biogas, even in Arctic conditions. This technology shows real promise for reducing diesel shipments and strengthening energy independence in remote communities. However, the study also identified areas that need further improvement before full-scale deployment. Future work should focus on developing real-time monitoring tools to help operators manage the anaerobic digestion process more easily, optimizing the system to perform well at lower temperatures, and reducing the amount of water required, since access to potable water is limited in many remote areas.
Overall, this project demonstrates a promising path toward cleaner, more self-sufficient energy systems for Canada’s North. By turning waste into a valuable local resource, Northern communities could move closer to a sustainable and resilient energy future.
Results from the study were published in the Arctic Science journal in October 2025.