Bioenergy Group

As part of the collection of clean energy programs at CETC-Ottawa, Natural Resources Canada, the Bioenergy group focuses on:

• supporting research and development of bioenergy technology through cost-shared agreements;
• promoting bioenergy necessity and solutions for this renewable and sustainable energy source;
• advocating the need for proper policies and programs relating to bioenergy;
• increasing awareness of general public and policy makers on the benefits of bioenergy;

As one of the most established and broadly applied sources of energy in the world, biomass could provide future economical energy supplies through application of new methods and technology. Developing, researching and supporting these new methods and technology is a key objective of this group. This will aid the government and in essence the public with reaching targets to replace fossil fuels as the key energy source with a renewable energy source.

Involvement at various stages of R&D results in new methods and technologies that could effectively provide innovative means of handling residues, wastes and energy crops of varying sorts. Consequently, this results in transferring an environmental dilemma to an energy-efficient benefit.

A positive socio-economic effect could be provided to remote and local areas by using locally available renewable bioenergy. This results in providing economic growth and employment to communities.

Six key biomass energy conversion technologies studied at CETC are:

• Combustion - convert forestry, agricultural and municipal residues into heat and power under environmentally sound conditions;
• Gasification - convert forestry, agricultural and municipal residues into syngas;
• Pyrolysis - convert forestry and agricultural residues into bio-oils and value added products;
• Fermentation - convert the starch and cellulose components in biomass to bio-ethanol;
• Transesterification - convert a variety of new and used vegetable oils; tall oils; and other agricultural crops and residues into bio-diesel;
• Anaerobic Digestion - convert manures, food processing and municipal wastes into methane rich biogas.

For more information please contact the appropriate technical officer listed below:

S&T Director
Brian Farnand
Tel: 613-996-7977
Fax: 613-996-9416
Email: Brian.Farnand@NRCan.gc.ca

Combustion Energy Technology
John Burnett
Tel: 613-947-4111
Fax: 613-996-9416
Email: John.Burnett@NRCan.gc.ca