2016-03-25 04:23:05
KWADACHA TO BUILD BIOENERGY PLANT
A B.C. First Nation has announced its intention to build a biomass plant, using sawmill residues from a mill on its reserve to provide the fuel for electricity generation.
A report from Alaska Highway News suggested that the Kwadacha First Nation near Fort Ware will use the 145kW facility to provide electricity and heat some buildings including a soon-tobe- constructed greenhouse.
The small, off-the-grid community of around 300 will use the bioenergy facility to remove the nation’s reliance on diesel. Kwadacha has a 20-year purchase agreement in place for the bioenergy facility with BC Hydro, which owns the community’s diesel generators
YUKON ADOPTS BIOMASS STRATEGY
The Government of Yukon has announced the adoption of the Yukon Biomass Energy Strategy which will guide the development of a biomass energy sector in the territory.
“Using biomass is a costeffective and environmentally sustainable solution for heating in the territory,” said Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Scott Kent.
“The Yukon Biomass Energy Strategy will also create good opportunities for investment in the Yukon.”
The strategy provides opportunities for generating new energy for heating from local renewable energy sources. In the Yukon, the most commonly available biomass resource is wood, which is the main focus of the strategy.
There are six key action areas found within the strategy:
• using biomass energy for government infrastructure;
• developing regulations, policies and programs for a biomass energy industry;
• managing air quality to protect public and environmental health and safety;
• facilitating the development of a biomass energy industry in Yukon;
• ensuring a sustainable timber supply; and
• ensuring biomass fuel quality and security.
The City of Dawson’s wastewater treatment plant uses a biomass-fuelled boiler for generating heat in a costeffective way using locally produced wood chips. The Whitehorse Correctional Centre is into its fourth full heating season operating the facility’s renewable energy biomass system.
“Over time, the Yukon government aims to encourage the adoption of modern, clean-burning wood-heating technologies and optimize the use of local wood resources in the production of heat to deliver adequate energy during our long, cold winter months,” Kent added.
The Yukon Biomass Energy Strategy joins the recently adopted Independent Power Production policy and the Micro-generation policy as part of Yukon government’s broader efforts to increase renewable energy and to achieve energy self-reliance as per the Energy Strategy for Yukon and Climate Change Action Plan
NEW ALBERTA INNOVATES GRANTS
Two Aiberta Innovates corporations have teamed up to provide funding for research and development projects that advance the knowledge and use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), an advanced biomaterial.
The new program, called CNC Challenge 2.0, is intended to support early-stage work to demonstrate technical feasibility of CNC in high-value applications with potential for commercialization.
Researchers and developers at Canadian institutions, companies or other organizations are invited to submit proposals via the AI Bio website at: bio.albertainnovates.ca/ funding.
COMET BIOREFINING COMING TO SARNIA
Comet Biorefining, Inc. is coming to Sarnia, Ont.
The provider of cellulosic dextrose technology for applications in renewable biochemicals and biofuels recently announced that it will construct a commercial-scale, biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia. The plant is expected to come online in 2018 and will produce 60 million pounds annually of dextrose sugar from locally-sourced corn stover and wheat straw. Corn stover consists of residues left in the field after harvest including stalks, leaves, husks and cobs.
“Construction of this first-of-a-kind plant represents a key step towards the large-scale commercialization of our cellulosic sugar business,” said Andrew Richard, CEO of Comet.“It highlights the important role our technology plays in the value chain, helping to drive the bioeconomy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Comet converts non-food agricultural and forest residues into high-purity dextrose sugars that will be transformed into bio-based products including organic acids, amino acids and bioplastics. These products replace traditional petroleum-based materials and are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help contribute to Canada’s efforts on climate change.
The company stated that Comet dextrose is cost and performance competitive with commercial dextrose sugars, which is the benchmark raw material for today’s biochemical production.
Comet’s descision to set up shop in Sarnia stemmed from working together with Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC), the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and an Ontario farmers’ cooperative on a project to attract sustainable technology providers to the region and to meet increasing demand from chemical suppliers and consumers for low-carbon products.
“Comet’s cellulosic sugar technology was one of the clean sustainable technologies recommended, with the best fit for the region and an excellent opportunity to accelerate the growth of the bioeconomy in rural Ontario,” said Dr. Murray McLaughlin, executive director of BIC.
“Establishing new uses for agricultural residues in the bio-based chemical supply chain leads to sustainable farms and new markets,” added Don McCabe, president of OFA. “Both outcomes are primary goals of the OFA, and this project does just that.”
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