Final Thoughts A plan for action Setting our focus for 2015 and beyond From the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association T he Canadian Renewable Fuels As-sociation is beginning the New Year with new leadership, a growing membership and an evolving focus. In December 2014 the CRFA hosted the first annual Canadian Bioeconomy Conference, a well-attended and well-re-ceived event. Many delegates were specif-ically interested in the new agenda offer-ings as the focus shifted beyond biofuels to address the various bioproducts cur-rently being developed in Canada. Overall the agenda was rich, the con-versations were lively and there was re-newed excitement in the future of the industry. The Bioeconomy Track hosted dis-cussions on the future of Canada’s bio-economy, with topics such as Forestry Innovations in the Bioeconomy, and One Man’s Trash: Turning Agricultural Waste Into the Future of Biomaterials. It was evi-dent that this burgeoning segment of the bioeconomy was eager to assemble, share ideas and seek support. New CRFA president Andrea Kent welcomed conference participants, cred-iting members’ help in building a do-mestic renewable fuels industry. She ac-knowledged that the association’s work was far from done, explaining that Can-ada’s renewable fuels industry is con-tinuing to grow, improve and innovate. Around the world, the global economy is promoting innovation and expanding biofuel policies. With many jurisdic-tions introducing robust policy supports, program incentives and carbon pricing, Kent’s message was clear: Canadian pol-icies must keep pace. The CRFA has put forward an action plan that will trigger investment for Cana-dian innovations in biofuels and the bio-economy. The Evolution and Growth action plan focuses on: 1. Growing the market share of re-newable content in liquid fuels; 2. Ensuring our companies’ prod-ucts are available to consumers; and 3. Remaining a strong contributor to how Canada addresses GHG reductions. Growing the market share of renew-able content is critical if Canada is to achieve its economic and environmental goals. Many levels of government should be looking at biofuels as critical compo-nents of their carbon reduction strategies. Case in point, the government of On-tario’s greener diesel legislation recently raised the mandated renewable content in diesel fuels from two per cent to four per cent by 2017. Renewable fuels can reduce GHG emissions by as much as 99% when compared to petroleum based diesel. Ontario’s two per cent inclusion requirement will be the equivalent of re-moving the emissions from 140,000 cars annually, and this number will double when inclusion requirements reach four per cent. Ensuring consumers have access to these higher level biofuels blends is equally as important. As automakers are required to improve fuel economy, ethanol – a higher octane fuel – will be-come increasingly important to power the smaller, lighter engines these new fuel economy standards will require. In Canada, however, there are less than 10 pumps that offer higher ethanol blends to consumers. Fuelling infrastructure is an issue that must be addressed in Canada. Further, the importance of market ac-cess is by no means limited to renewable fuels. Tomorrow’s bioeconomy relies on developing new technologies for sustain-able, bio-based products, and successfully bringing these to market. Programs like the Sustainable De-velopment Technology Canada (SDTC) TechFund™ and the SDTC NextGen Bio-fuels Fund™ (NGBF) have proven very successful. However, unlike in Europe and the U.S., a transition fund for these new technologies does not exist. Creating a biorefinery fund to support innovative and potentially groundbreaking technol-ogy will not only accelerate progress in research, but help define and secure Can-ada’s overall energy future. Today is a time of real environmental challenges and great economic opportu-nity. As Kent told attendees in December. Capitalizing on these opportunities con-tinues to be the CRFA’s main focus. As the recent past has shown, a thriv-ing and fully realized domestic renewable fuels industry is more than possible — it is viable and working in Canada. Now is the time to build on this successful plat-form. The results will benefit our imme-diate energy future, but more importantly, lay the foundation for the prosperity of generations to come. • Final Thoughts provides associations from throughout the biomass, bioenergy and biochemical industry with the opportunity to discuss issues affecting its membership. To discuss a column opportunity, email Editor Andrew Macklin at [email protected] 30 Canadian BIOMASS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
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