Bio-Energy Conference To Get Underway

Wednesday, May 31, 2006 03:50 AM

As the price of a barrel of crude hits record highs and rates for natural gas, and electricity are increasing, the idea of bio- mass energy is gaining momentum.

Bio energy uses plant derived organic matter to produce electricity, liquid, solid and gaseous fuels. It is a renewable resource and Prince George is in the geographic heart of bio-mass country. Later this morning, at the Conference Centre of the University of Northern B.C, the first of a two day conference on bio energy will get underway.

“It’s particularly relevant that this conference be held here, given the tremendous fibre resource in the Central Interior of British Columbia,” said conference chair John Swaan. “Where else would you hold such a meeting of minds on bioenergy than in what has to be considered the Saudi Arabia of the bioenergy industry?”

In addition to presentations by Provincial Government Ministries, there will be presentations about many aspects of bio energy including: pellet operations, community energy systems, producing steam and electricity from mill waste, and use of beetle kill wood to produce power. Researcher Dr. Amit Kumar will talk about his study which concluded beetle-killed trees could provide enough climate-friendly fuel to fire a 300-megawatt electrical power plant.

The Federal Ministry of Natural resources says the longer the heating season, the more financial sense bio-mass energy makes. The Ministry points to a case of a hog farmer in P.E.I who switched to bio-mass energy and burned 130 tonnes of sawdust instead of 36,000 litres of heating oil. He saved nearly $8,500 dollars during that heating season (1995).

Bio energy advocates say bio-energy is a win-win situation because the systems make use of cheap, plentiful biomass residue as a source of renewable energy, companies save by reducing fuel costs and the community saves by conserving Canada's natural resources.

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Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 03:50 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: lunarguy on May 31 2006 4:59 AM

But is the only reason why the hog farmer saved $8,500 is that the government did not tax the sawdust at the same rate as heating oil ?

No doubt there are benefits to bio-energy but hard to compare based on price cause once it becomes widely used, the government will tax it !

Does surprise me the hog farmer did not put in a methane gas system given he has the raw fuel on site, burn the methane either for heat or electricity and then the left over material is mixed with soil and used as fertilizer.

Posted by: owl on May 31 2006 3:57 PM

Lunarguy ... you are right on. BTW, we must not forget that methane is also bio-energy.

There is much mor to using our forests for bio energy than is typically said. It is one thing to use the waste product which is available at no cost or low cost. I tis another matter to cut trees for fuel as an end use. Stumpage, transportation, chipping, replanting, stand tending, planning, etc. etc. - all such costs have traditionally gone into the end product: lumber, plywood, pulp, etc.

The waste has been burned in beehive burners at a cost and now, due to government regulations, is being used to create energy to run the mills.

If energy is the end product, all those costs will have to be borne by the sale of that end product and the end product will skyrocket in price the same as oil and gas has been.

So, it will be interesting to see whether anyone presents that scenario, or whether everyone has rose coloured glasses on.

But, it is a nice day, the University is a nice venue, we have a stiff breeze so the air is clear and you can see the snow covered rockies. So, it is great to have people here from other parts of the world. The more we do that, the better off PG will be. So, kudos to Trudy's husband for putting this on.

Posted by: Palopu on May 31 2006 7:55 PM

Owl can all those bio's see the mountains through their rose covered glasses??