Canadian Biomass • MayJune 2018 • Industry News

Modern wood heating is receiving a boost in northern Ontario. Biothermic has announced the addition of a second bulk wood pellet delivery truck to its fleet.

Garaged at the Thunder Bay, Ont., office, this brand new international truck is the first of its kind in the region. The truck is equipped with a self-contained silo, blower and on-board weighing system designed and built by Tropper of Austria.

Bulk wood pellet delivery is a key component to the successful development of larger wood pellet boiler systems. Trucks like Biothermic’s provide a direct link between pellet producers and pellet consumers. The new generation of pellet boilers are completely automated and will draw their fuel from a large bulk storage room or silos leading to handsfree heating with wood.

The truck’s on-board weighing system is accurate to within 10 kilograms, giving it the ability to accurately deliver small loads and large loads while assuring the client with accurate billing.

Pinnacle and West Fraser have begun the conversion of an existing particle board facility in Smithers, B.C., to a wood pellet production facility.

The project under the Smithers Pellet Limited Partnership will be co-owned by West Fraser Timber Co. (30 per cent) and Pinnacle (70 per cent).

Located in northwestern B.C. approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert, the Smithers facility is connected by direct rail to Pinnacle’s Westview Port Terminal in Prince Rupert.

The plant will have an annual capacity of 125,000 metric tonnes, with production expected to begin in the third quarter of 2018.

Both fibre supply and customer off-take agreements are in place under long-term agreements, the company reports.

“We are pleased to be partnering on the Smithers facility redevelopment with West Fraser. This project will contribute to the economic vitality and job growth of Smithers and other local communities,” Robert McCurdy, CEO of Pinnacle, said in a news release. “We are committed to the numerous communities throughout the Western Canadian fibre basket in which we operate, and we plan to continue to look for similar projects to support our future growth.”

Pinnacle currently operates six industrial wood pellet production facilities and a port terminal in B.C., and, in addition to the Smithers operation, has a new production facility under construction in Entwistle, Alta.

All aboard! Registration is now open for the annual WPAC AGM & Conference. Get the most up-to-date information on wood pellet certifications at this year’s event, Sept. 17–19, in Vancouver.

Our kick off reception takes us off land this year aboard the Magic Charm for a three-hour cruise through Indian Arm — a steep-sided glacial fjord formed during the last ice age.

This two-level yacht has a fully functional bar at the bow with an outdoor seating area perfect for networking and capturing stunning pictures. The second level is a sleek, modern lounge that opens onto a large, outdoor deck that offers the perfect area to mingle, enjoy a snack, and take in the breathtaking views.

Reserve your spot and save with our early bird pricing. Learn more at pellet.org/wpac-agm.

The Ontario government spending $6.7 million on pilot programs that will help northern, rural and Indigenous communities transition from diesel and oil to new, efficient wood and pellet heating systems.

Four new programs are being launched through the Green Ontario Fund (GreenON), a non-profit provincial agency that doles out proceeds from Ontario’s carbon market.

Two Indigenous-led pilot programs will operate in Wiikwemikoong and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) territory and provide free installation of wood and pellet heating systems to replace diesel and oil or older, inefficient wood stoves. Two other municipally-led pilot programs will offer rebates to households in Wawa and Sioux Lookout.

“This project is a tremendous step forward in providing safer and healthier living conditions for our communities that rely on diesel power,” Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox said in a news release. “Wood heat is an environmentally conscious alternative to fossil fuel and a sensible fuel choice for those living in the NAN Territory. The communities that have received the wood stoves will see a reduction of the health, safety and environmental impacts associated with diesel generation.”

Nathalie Des Rosiers, Ontario’s minister of natural resources and forestry, said the pilot projects will help support the province’s forest sector. “A strong local market for wood heating fuels will support a diverse forest product sector, spur innovation, and keep investment here in Ontario. By increasing the use of modern wood heating technologies in these communities, the pilots will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and encourage development of Ontario’s abundant forest resources.”

The province is planning to invest up to $1.7 billion from its carbon market revenue into the Green Ontario Fund.

B.C.-based pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. has entered into a long-term, take-or-pay off-take contract with Ube Industries Ltd., a diversified Japanese conglomerate with annual revenues of approximately US$6 billion.

Under the terms of the contract, Pinnacle will supply 70,000 metric tons per annum of industrial wood pellets to Ube beginning in late 2019.

“Japan has made a strong commitment to decarbonization, and biomass is poised to become an increasingly important part of the country’s energy mix,” said Robert Mc- Curdy, CEO of Pinnacle. “One third of our $421 million in contracted backlog in 2017 was with customers in Japan, and this new contract with Ube further builds on our strong sales momentum in this growing market.”

Pinnacle says demand for industrial wood pellets in Japan is accelerating, supported by the government’s Feedin Tariff system. There are more than 10 new biomass projects currently in late-stage development in Japan.

According to Hawkins Wright, a leading provider of market intelligence and analytical services to the international pulp, paper and biomass industries, the Japanese market represented three per cent of global demand for industrial wood pellets in 2016 and forecasts this market to increase to approximately 10 per cent of global demand in 2021 and 17 per cent in 2026.

The Ontario government is contributing $8 million in funding for Comet Biorefining’s commercial-scale bio-based ingredient refinery in Sarnia, Ont.

The $79.8-million facility will be the first of its kind in the world. Comet Biorefining uses proprietary ingredient technology to convert of agricultural residues, including wheat straw, corn stover and wood products, into high purity ingredients. The ingredients are used in the food and beverage, animal nutrition and biomaterials markets.

According to a government news release, the provincial funding through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund will help Comet:

• Grow the agri-based value chain and benefit local farmers by using residues from Ontario’s farming community

• Grow the emerging biochemical bioproduct ecosystem in Sarnia, while further establishing Ontario as a global player in the bioeconomy

Jeff Leal, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, said the provincial funds will help position Comet Biorefining to compete globally. “This will in turn help create and retain jobs, boost Sarnia’s local economy and support the competitiveness and further growth of Ontario’s agri-food sector,” he said.

CEO of Comet Biorefining Rich Troyer thanked the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for their financial support and touted their leadership in making Canada a global front-runner for the manufacturing of bio-based products.

“Once completed, this facility will produce sustainable ingredients for customers across North American and provide a win for local farmers, a win for the environment, and a win for the Canadian bioeconomy as a whole,” he said.