12 capacity-building projects (such as providing staff and equipment). One of BCBN’s largest investments is with Nexterra Systems Corp. for $3 million. It comprises two parts. The first focuses upon research and devel-opment to demonstrate and produce ultra-clean synthetic gases that can be used as low-emission gases for heating or use in a reciprocating engine to produce electricity at Nexterra’s Kamloops research and devel-opment centre. The second is to support a commercial demonstration for the installa-tion of a gasifier and reciprocating engine at the University of British Columbia to pro-duce both hot water and electricity. With these types of projects, the biggest obstacle is not the technology, but people’s misconceptions about the emissions from woody biomass renewable fuels, says Scott Stanners, director of research at BC Bioen-ergy Network. “Most of the general public are not aware that biomass can be combusted or gasified and result in emissions of particulate mat-ter that are cleaner than natural gas. Many people believe that burning wood residues will generate dangerous emissions that can be toxic,” says Stanners. “In fact, with the development of new technology and appropriate emissions abatement systems, emissions from woody biomass have reduced 1,000-fold over the past 40 years and can demonstrate energy efficiency upwards of 90% with technol-ogy available today.” Another area of research that BCBN is excited about is in partnership with Lignol Innovations Ltd., representing another $3 million investment. The project aims to covert lignocellu-losic biomass into fuel ethanol at a dem-onstration plant, according to Weedon. The plant will also be able to produce spe-cialty chemicals such as high-purity lignin that could be used to replace carbon fibre. “The future of energy is going to be based upon local use of resources, local transformation and local consumption,” he said. “It will be increasingly difficult to afford to ship energy all over the world as fuels become more expensive.” With a growing concern about the cur-rent global energy supply, BCBN selects projects to invest in that have both pres-ent benefits and future potential. KNOWLEDGE GAP Visit us at Bioenergy Conference, Prince George, BC June 13-15, 2012 Biomass-to-Energy Boilers Customized Engineered Solutions Since 1976, Jansen Combustion and Boiler Technologies, Inc. (JANSEN) has provided customized engineered solutions to owners/ operators of boilers in the Forest Products and Waste-to-Energy Industries. Our mission is to improve t he operating performance (fuel burning capacity and economy, efficiency, and emissions perfor-mance) of existing boilers that burn difficult fuels such h as biomass, chemical spent liquors, municipal solid waste ( (MSW), SW) refuse f derived fuel (RDF) and tire derived fuel (TDF). JANSEN has conducted engineering perfor-mance evaluations of over 300 boilers, world-wide, and has provided combustion system and/or superheater upgrades of over 80 biomass, chemi-cal recovery, MSW, and RDF boilers. JANSEN has the ca-pability and experi-ence to function as your one-source solution to boiler retrofit projects. With the ability to define, engineer, contract and manage design-construct projects, we offer Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) capabilities. When a project is submitted to BCBN for approval, the researchers or companies cre-ate an expression of interest to describe the research or project, how it fits the mandate, and how it can be further developed. From there, the ideas are explored, re-searched and examined for suitability, in-novation and feasibility by the board of directors before a decision is made on an economic, environmental and social basis. One of the best criteria to judge by, accord-ing to Weedon, is if the research is truly novel and will broaden the use of the energy source through using low-cost feedstock or A synopsis of our broad range of services: > Full service engineering design for steam, power, and combustion systems > Biomass, MSW, RDF, TDF, fossil fuel, and chemical recovery boiler performance evaluations > Effective overfire air (OFA) delivery system upgrades on biomass and other waste-fueled boilers > Replacement or upgraded superheater design and supply > Boiler circulation analyses > Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling > Feasibility studies and cost/benefits analyses > Emissions reduction (CO, NO x , PM, SO 2 , TRS, VOC) > Operations support and training C O 2 CO “We try to provide value in some form to every potential hjgb][l$]n]fa^o]\gfglhjgna\]\aj][l^mf\af_$�b;kYqkK[gll Stanners, director of research at BC Bioenergy Network. Michael Weedon, executive director of BC Bioenergy Net-ogjc$ kYqke]eZ]jkdggc^gjl][`fgdg_ql`Yl [Yf Údd Y knowledge gap. Find out how we can help you: www.jansenboiler.com (425) 952-2825
Canadian Biomass May/June 2012: Page 33
