The University of Regina, Saskatchewan Forestry Centre and Canadian Green Fuels are joining forces to find ways of turning forestry waste and other biomass into the next generation of biofuels.
The Canadian Biofuel and Energy Research and Technology partnership, a five-year, research project valued at $750,000, was announced at a news conference in Regina Thursday.
C-BERT, as it's called, promises to be "one of Canada's first biofuel and energy research and technology partnerships,'' said Troy Metz, chief development officer of Canadian Green Fuels, a Regina-based biodiesel manufacturer, and a consultant with the Saskatchewan Forestry Centre, based in Prince Albert.
Specifically, the partnership will be looking at "biomass gasification'' or "the use of wood products to create energy,'' Metz said.
Sherry Michalyca, chair of the forestry centre, said the Saskatchewan forestry industry has been suffering since the closure of the Prince Albert pulp mill over two years ago, throwing 700 people out of work.
"The forestry businesses need to embrace change. Changes are occurring in the forestry industry that have little to do with the traditional markets for lumber, pulp and paper,'' she said.
"Emerging biofuels technology provide solutions,'' added Michalyca. While a cubic metre of wood used for lumber generates $45 for producers, a cubic metre of wood used to make biofuels generates $500, she said.
Michalyca, who is also chief financial officer of the Nipawin Biomass ethanol project, said the centre is "mandated'' to use technology to make money for the industry. For example, the Nipawin Biomass project would use "wood residue in the gasification process."
David Gauthier, vice-president of the U of R, said the partnership is "good for the University of Regina'' and builds on the university's reputation as a research centre for carbon capture and storage, referring to the Petroleum Technology Research Centre and International Test Centre for CO2 Capture.
The partnership with CGF and SFC will help the U of R to develop expertise in "green'' energy technology, which will complement its strength in carbon sequestration research, which is used primarily in reducing or capturing carbon emissions produced from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal.
"Today's announcement is an example of how we can advance our shared interests in this area,'' Gauthier said. "It's a challenge for the three partners… to help secure a cleaner, greener future for our province.''
Mike Shenher, president and CEO of CGF, which will provide research space and facilities for the project, said partnerships, like C-BERT, will help the biofuels industry take the next step in developing feedstocks for the new generation of biofuels. "It's only through collaborations like this one that we'll be able to harness the promise of biofuel production from alternative biomass materials.''
The partnership is expected to begin its first project this summer or fall, with "deliverables'' expected as early as 2009. An advisory council will be established in fall to provide guidance to the partners.
