Biomass Innovation Centre

Biomass Harvesting in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Forest: From the Forest to the Mill

April 18, 2012
Algoma’s Water Tower Inn, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

This session is part of a larger two-day seminar being hosted by the Forestry Research Partnership (FRP). The Biomass Innovation Centre has partnered with the FRP to deliver this special session on biomass research and harvesting operations.

The seminar is FREE, but you must register with Vanessa Chaimbrone (vchaimbrone@cif-ifc.org, 705-744-1715 x 530). Please indicate whether you will be attending for both days, or just the biomass session.

HARNESSING BIOMASS II: Support for Northern Ontario Bioeconomy Initiatives

November 22 & 23, 2011
Clarion Resort Pinewood Park, North Bay, ON

Since the first HARNESSING BIOMASS Conference took place in 2009 new projects have started across the province, which are contributing to an innovative and sustainable bioeconomy for the north. The purpose of this conference was to build on successes and encourage additional biomass related projects by individuals, communities and companies.

• Increase knowledge about Ontario’s current and potential bioeconomy;
• Provide technical support for local forest-origin and agricultural (i.e., purpose grown energy crops) biomass initiatives; and
• Learn about what other groups across northern Ontario are doing with respect to biomass-related project development.

From Fossil Fuel to Fibre: Moving Canada's Forest Bioeconomy Forward

September 19, 2011
Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville, ON

Over the past decade the Canadian forest industry has experienced a significant down turn and Canada’s share in global markets for traditional forest products has decreased substantially. At the same time, requirements for green energy, transportation fuels, and other bio-products have increased resulting in new market opportunities for biofibre use. In this session, we discussed national and provincial government approaches and programs that have been put in place to move the bioeconomy forward. We also looked at how the Canadian forest industry is transitioning to the new bioeconomy. Strategies for biofibre use were discussed with respect to ecological, economic, and social criteria by a panel of experts from national and provincial governments, industry leaders, and not-for-profit organizations.

Developing Models for Local Forest Energy

September 18, 2011
Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville, ON

The regional bioeconomy has high importance for generating socio-economic impacts, especially in sparsely populated resource peripheries. The benefits can include increased employment and income, and improved security of supply. In this presentation, the Finnish cases of local business opportunities on heat entrepreneurships and upgrading forest biomasses to pellets were presented in a series of two case studies.

Case 1: Business Models for Heat Entrepreneurships
The development of heat entrepreneurship in Finland was presented, including the remarkable growth of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the last 15 years. Secondly, the concept of business models was presented and discussed within the framework of wood heat production. The identified models included public companies/utilities, public–private partnerships, private companies, social enterprises (cooperatives), Energy Saving Company (ESCO), network model of large enterprises and franchising. Descriptive cases of these models were presented. Finally, conclusions were made on applicability of the business models in different operational environments and geographical contexts.

Case 2: Broadening of the Raw Material Base - New Business Opportunities in Pellet Production? The latest results of PELLETime project, focusing on the competitiveness of small-scale pellet production and broadening the raw material base of the pellet industry were presented. The aim was to initiate discussion related to topical questions among pellet industry: what is the quality of pellets produced of undebarked or debarked round wood, and is there potential to establish new pellet factories utilizing those raw materials? Fuel quality aspects were covered by presenting results of pelletizing trials for undebarked pine and birch-pine mixtures. The results from pelletizing trials and combustion analyses indicated that high quality pellets can be produced from alternative raw materials. The economic simulations in a case of a new 22,500 tons/per factory demonstrated that, with strict preconditions, pellet production based on round wood raw material can be feasible. Finally, conclusions were presented on the role of alternative raw materials in future.

HARNESSING BIOMASS I: From the Forest to the Marketplace

October 22 & 23, 2009
Nipissing University, North Bay, ON

With an abundance of clean, renewable carbon-friendly fuel right here in our own backyard, there are many exciting commercial, social and environmental opportunities for the development of forest biomass facing Canadian communities. In 2009, Ontario was Canada's hot bed for biomass: the provincial government had just released its Green Energy Act, Ontario Power Generation was proceeding with plans to use biomass for power generation, and new forest tenure regulations were expected to fuel entrepreneurial plants to grow biomass business opportunities. To the province's struggling forest sector, there was a sense that biomass would enable the industry to successfully emerge from one of the worst recessions in years. Given the significant interest in this new initiative, the Biomass Innovation Centre and conference partners gathered together a diverse group of interested parties to explore the challenges and opportunities for the development of new renewable energy sources from forest biomass. The conference was designed to have a logical flow starting in the forest and moving to harvesting, transformation, and finishing with a focus on harnessing the opportunity.