Pellet Profile New pellet plant coming on the map Skeena BioEnergy is launching as a new company, in a brand-new pellet facility in BC By Tamar Atik A new pellet plant taking shape in Terrace, B.C., is expected to set a new standard in environmental compliance for the industry, if the company and supplier building it have it their way. “It will be Prodesa’s first complete system installation in B.C. and we would like this to be a showcase for both our company and for them. We’d like it to set a high benchmark for environmental compliance,” Skeena Sawmills’ vice-president Roger Keery tells Canadian Biomass . Skeena BioEnergy is the name of the new $20-million pellet plant (and company) being built next to Skeena Sawmills. Construction started in June and is expected to be completed by December 2018, with commissioning in January 2019. “It took us four years, and we looked at a wide range of alternatives,” Keery says. “We looked at some different technologies re-using sawmill residuals. We looked at bio-naphtha and bio-ethanol and we also looked at producing biogas in a closed electrical Agenerating system.” Skeena BioEnergy is being built in an existing building that used to house a veneer company. Skeena Sawmills owns the site and the building. It operates a large sawmilling operation in Terrace and its need for an adjacent pellet plant was clear. “We needed to add value to our sawmill residuals — sawdust and hog fuel,” Keery says. “We’re currently not able to recover any value from our shavings or sawdust or hog fuel and our pellet business turns that into a revenue source Contract employees complete the first concrete pour of the cooler foundation at the Skeena BioEnergy site. Photos supplied. 14 Canadian BIOMASS JULY/AUGUST 2018
Canadian Biomass JulyAugust 2018: Page 14
