Big investment in ltiny product Institutions across the country are looking to make Canada a leader in nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) production and application. NCC has high strength and surface area, and may be useful in diverse applications such as automotive components, paints, building materials, plastics, packaging, health care products, and energy extraction, opening the door to new potential high-value markets that could benefit Canada’s forest industry. In late May, FPInnovations inaugurated two new NCC research laboratories in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, and installed new lab equipment at its Quebec City facility to investigate NCC and nanocomposites. The $4.1-million investment is supported by the Ministère du Développement économique de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation du Québec and Natural Resources Canada. A state-of-the-art pilot plant, under the CelluForce joint venture of Domtar and FPInnovations, will produce NCC in a large-scale commercial demonstration plant with a production capacity of 3 kg/ day. It is under construction at Domtar’s pulp and paper mill in Windsor, Quebec, and should be operational in early 2012. The new facilities will produce NCC in sufficient quantities to supply FPInnovations’ and external research groups and will allow the development of new grades of NCC. In addition a new $5.5-million pilot plant in Edmonton, created through a provincial- federal collaboration with industry, will use wood and straw pulp to create up to 100 kg/week of NCC for testing in commercial applications. The project proponents are Alberta Advanced Education and Technology, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Alberta Innovates, and Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries. See Biomass in action The Canadian Woodlands Forum’s flagship event, DEMO International 2012, will be held in Saint-Raymond, Quebec, on September 20–22. Gestion Solifor, a forest management company, is hosting the event on one of its properties, La Seigneurie de Perthuis, located just 75 km from Quebec City. This world-class event, which occurs only every four years, will mark the 12th edition of DEMO International. During the course of its 40-year history, DEMO has evolved into one of North America’s largest outdoor equipment shows. The live-action, in-woods equipment show will attract more than 150 exhibitors featuring the latest technologies in equipment, products, and services, covering all aspects of woodlands operations from silviculture and harvesting to road construction, biomass harvesting, recovery and transportation, and private woodland management. Attracting individuals interested in forestry from around the world, past DEMO shows have seen anywhere from 5,000 to 16,000 attendees. See Canadian Biomass’ exclusive coverage of the site details at www.canadianbiomass magazine.ca/content/view/2592/133/ and find the conference link under EVENTS at www.canadianbiomassmagazine.com. Biomass cogeneration program Quebec is developing a new program to purchase electricity produced by cogeneration from forest residual biomass. The program will create up to 150 MW of electricity and will be open to all developers of cogeneration plants of 50 MW or less that use residual forest biomass as feedstock. Hydro-Québec Distribution will purchase the electricity at a fixed price, estimated at 11 cents/kWh. The program is awaiting approval from the province’s government as well as the energy board (Régie de l’énergie). Gasoline from biomass Madison, Wisconsin-based Virent says that it has successfully produced bio-gasoline from corn stover and pine residuals. Analysis shows similarity between the bio-gasoline and the typical petroleum reformate used at a refinery, indicating that the product could be blended similarly to high-octane petroleum reformate in commercial gasolines. Schools get pellet heat Two rural British Columbia schools will be installing wood pellet boilers, reports the Williams Lake Tribune. Located in Alexis Creek and Tatla Lake (100 and 200 km west of Williams Lake, respectively), the projects aim to use locally sourced wood pellets to decrease heating costs and carbon emissions. Trebio produces pellets The Trebio wood pellet plant in Portagedu- Fort, Quebec, went through commissioning tests in early June and is now starting to produce wood pellets. Bulk and bagged shipments are being prepared for delivery to Europe and North America. The company will also be supplying pellets to two local schools that have switched to biomass heating. New pellet plants British Columbia-based Biomass Secure Power plans to break ground on its first wood pellet plant in October, with start-up and commissioning of the up to 500,000-tonne/year plant beginning in September 2012. The company has plans for two additional plants, as well as torrefaction to make pellets with coal-like properties.