BIOMASS update COMMITTEE PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO EU’S RED II The environment commit-tee of the European Parlia-ment (ENVI) is suggesting amendments to the European Commission’s proposal on the use of energy from renewable sources (RED II), removing the option for countries that are not party to the Paris climate agreement to demonstrate sustainability of biomass at the forest holding level. The ENVI committee published two amendments to article 26, paragraph six of RED II, which deals with biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels produced from forest biomass. One of the amendments removes the entire second subparagraph, which was an option for those countries that are not signed on to the Paris climate agree-ment to provide evidence that management systems are in place at the forest holding level to ensure carbon stocks and sinks levels in the forests are maintained. If RED II passes with the amendment, it has the po-tential to prevent U.S. pellet producers from meeting the criteria to export to the EU. U.S. President Trump with-drew from the Paris agree-ment earlier this year. Gordon Murray, executive director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, said in an interview the amendment would be catastrophic for both U.S. and Canadian pellet producers. “I don’t think there is any doubt the U.S. has a sustain-able wood pellet industry. But a technical requirement with-in the proposal that requires you to be a part of Paris in or-der to qualify would remove the opportunity for them to demonstrate forest manage-ment at the holding level,” Murray said. “We’re worried that if that ENVI opinion is accepted, it has the potential to destabilize the international pellet mar-ket,” he said. “We need the Americans to have a healthy pellet industry in order for us all to prosper because they make up such a significant amount of the world’s supply.” Murray said he doesn’t have a clear idea what the likelihood is the amendments will be passed. The ENVI committee is expected to vote on the proposed amendments to RED II in mid October. RED II (Renewable Energy Directive) is a part of the European Commission’s Clean Energy Package, which, once passed by the European Parliament and European Council, will determine the EU’s clean energy rules up to 2030. The current package expires in 2020. GREENFIELD EVALUATES MAJOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION EXPANSION Canada’s largest ethanol producer Greenfield Global has commenced a feasibility study to significantly expand operations for sustainable biofuel production at its biorefinery in Varennes, Que. The first ethanol plant built in Quebec, the Varennes distillery is a model for waste water management and energy efficiency. The plant already produces some of the lowest carbon fuel ethanol in North America and is on its way to becoming part of a state-of-the-art biorefinery complex. The potential expansion stands to increase its annual ethanol production capacity by 70 per cent (from 170 mly to 300 mly). The feasibility study will also incorporate the adaptation of emerging advanced biofuels technologies using non-traditional feedstocks and processes. Enerlab to produce insulation panels using lignin An insulation manufacturer based in St-Mathieu de Beloeil, Que., has received federal funding for its project to replace petroleum-based raw materials with lignin. Enerlab 2000 plans to use its iso-lignin technology to produce insulating and structural panels made with lignin from pulp and paper processes. The project is expected to cut Enerlab’s production cost of raw materials by 20 per cent, as well as reduce the company’s environmental footprint. Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program announced today $1.34 million in funding to Enerlab 2000 to support the lignin project. “Today’s announcement is a further example of our government’s dedication to supporting renewable resources to further the advancement of clean technology in Canada. By using a waste product of the pulp and paper process in place of petroleum-based raw materials, Enerlab is helping address the challenge of climate change,” Michel Picard, MP for Montarville, said in a news release. 6 Canadian BIOMASS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
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