of the biggest headlines in 2015, capturing global attention in the process. The Edmonton-based plant will produce upwards of 130 million litres of cellulosic ethanol per year, generated from 90 per cent of the community’s non-recyclable solid waste. The Enerkem/City of Edmonton model provides an ideal solution for clean fuel resources and MSW management while also providing a non-food base alternative for ethanol production. BRITISH COLUMBIA The small-scale bioenergy market continues to grow, with significant gains in Atlantic Canada and the Northwest Territories. As the fight for fibre continues in the province, the wood pellet production capacity continues its steady increase. This year saw the development of Pinnacle Renewable Energy’s seventh pellet production plant, with full construction and the start of production at its Lavington mill in partnership with Tolko Industries (see page 10 for our feature story). The mill, which fills a gap left by the closure of the sawdust digester at Domtar in Kamloops, will produce upwards of 260,000 tonnes of pellets per year for sale to Pinnacle’s growing international clientele. There are also significant upgrades being done to pellet plants within the same region of the new Pinnacle plant, with expansion underway at both the Viridis Energy West plant in West Kelowna and the Diacarbon Energy plant in Merritt. Speaking of Diacarbon, their takeover of the Merritt plant, formerly the Highland Pellet Company facility, will involve both the production of white pellets and torrefied pellets, as work continues on its torrefaction capacity in 2016. The much-anticipated Mackenzie bioenergy project is now operational following an equipment issue that delayed startup. The plant, adjacent to its sawmill operation, is generating a net of 230GWh, enough power for 24,000 homes and will generate upwards of $25 million in revenue for Conifex. There are several wood pellet projects in development stages throughout the province as we enter 2016, including the Canfor projects in Chetwyn and Fort St. John, which were both at or near completion at the end of the year. Iberdrola has already broken ground on its two bioenergy projects in the province, so added REGISTER NOW NETWORK WITH PRODUCERS Networking Opportunities At the World’s Largest Biomass Event Meet Thousands of Biomass Professionals Expand Your Biomass Knowledge WHERE PR ODUCERS MEET LARGEST BIOMASS CONFERENCE IN THE WORLD April 11-14, 2016 866-746-8385 [email protected] Charlo tt e, Nor th Car o lina www .Bi omassConf er ence.com # IBCE16 -Follow Us: twitter.com/biomassmagazine 16 Canadian BIOMASS CBM_janfeb16_BBIinternational_CSA.indd 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 2016-01-26 11:32 AM
Canadian Biomass January February 2016: Page 16
