British Columbia launches Bioenergy Strategy: electricity self sufficiency with biomass, zero GHG emissions from power, 50% biofuels by 2020

British Columbia's govrnment announced the launch of the province's comprehensive Bioenergy Strategy [*.pdf]. The framework aims to make the Canadian province entirely electricity self-sufficient by 2016 by relying on biomass. The emphasis on bioenergy will also lead to meeting the target of achieving zero new emissions from energy generation projects. Moreover, bioenergy and biofuels are to make up 50 per cent of all renewable fuels in the province by 2020.

The plan covers investments over the coming decennium into the broadest range of bioenergy sectors: bio-electricity, bioproducts, organic waste-to-energy, next-generation liquid biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol and gasification based biofuels, biohydrogen and biogas (timeline, click to enlarge).

According to the government, the Bioenergy Strategy will create new opportunities for rural communities; spur new investment and innovation; help British Columbia reach the goal of achieving full energy security, and help it fight climate change in a drastic way.

The BC Bioenergy Strategy includes:

• Establishment of $25 million in funding for a provincial Bioenergy Network for greater investment and innovation in B.C. bioenergy projects and technologies
• A target for B.C biofuel production to meet 50 per cent or more of the province’s renewable fuel requirements by 2020, which supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation
• The establishment of funding to advance provincial biodiesel production with up to $10 million over three years
• Development of at least 10 community energy projects that convert local biomass into energy by 2020
• Issuing a two-part Bioenergy Call for Power – the first part will be issued shortly, the second part by July 1, 2008 – focusing on existing biomass inventory in the forest industry and offering opportunities for smaller energy producers with projects that are immediately viable
• Establishment one of Canada’s most comprehensive provincial biomass inventories that creates waste to energy opportunities
• Support for methane capture from the province's largest landfills
• Incentives to utilize waste wood from phased-out beehive burners to produce clean energy
• Support for wood gasification research, development and commercialization

The plan further aims to develop the province’s bioenergy resources to enhance both the environmental and economic benefits for its people by collaborating with the Western Climate Initiative and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region, creating First Nations bioenergy opportunities and providing energy providers with information to develop new opportunities.

The proposed Bioenergy Network will:

• Support wood gasification research, development and commercialization in collaboration with the University of Northern British Columbia, University of British Columbia, Forest Products Innovation, the National Research Council, the forestry and energy sectors, industry and other partners.
• Advance biorefining for multiple, value-added product streams, such as biochemicals, in conjunction with bioenergy production in new facilities and/or at existing industrial operations by working with the BC Bioproducts Association, First Nations, agricultural and forest sectors.
• Encourage the development of pilot and demonstration projects with industries and communities in key biomass resource areas.
• Support research into socially and environmentally responsible dedicated energy crop production and enhance enzymatic and other biotechnology solutions for biomass-to-energy conversion.
• Advance the development of biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol and renewable diesel from algae and other resources, through the Green Energy and Environmentally Friendly Chemical Technologies Project and other initiatives.

energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: biohydrogen :: biogas :: bio-electricity :: bioproducts :: renewable :: emissions :: British Columbia :: Canada ::

The network will strengthen the development of world-class bioenergy research and technology expertise in British Columbia. This will include the creation of at least one academic leadership chair in bioenergy.

There is an abundance of bioenergy opportunities, such as using biomass created out of the mountain pine beetle outbreak that can stimulate investment and economic diversification while producing clean energy. - Gordon Campbell, British Columbia's Premier

B.C. has half of Canada’s entire biomass electricity-generating capacity. This strategy helps forest-dependent communities and brings opportunity to the agriculture sector as it looks at recovering maximum value from beetle-killed timber, wood wastes, and agricultural residues to generate renewable energy. - Rich Coleman, Forests and Range Minister

Additionally, the bioenergy strategy will help facilitate the closure of beehive burners and divert the waste stream for energy production, increase production and utilization of biofuels including biodiesel and facilitate production of anaerobic digestion bioenergy to address waste anagement
challenges posed by the agricultural industry. The Province will also work with industry to develop new fine particulate standards for industrial boilers to improve air quality.

B.C. leads Canada in energy production from biomass. Over 800 megawatts of biomass electricity capacity is installed in the province, enough to power 640,000 households. Pulp and paper mills meet over a third of their electricity needs through cogeneration of electricity and steam on site. In 2007, the B.C. wood pellet industry produced over 900,000 tonnes of wood pellets, of which 90 per cent was exported for thermal power production overseas.

Encouraging the emerging bioenergy industry and developing new and innovative uses for beetle-wood is part of the provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan.

References:
British Columbia, Office of the Premier, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Forests and Range: New Bioenergy Strategy Advances Innovation - January 31, 2008.

British Columbia Energy Plan: British Columbia Bioenergy Strategy [*.pdf].

British Columbia Energy Plan: Bioenergy Information Guide [*.pdf].