This theme is focused on the utilization of biomass-based materials for production of fuels and energy. Biomass, used for renewable fuel, is defined as materials derived from currently living organisms or their by-products. The focus of recent biomass energy research has been on the use of lignocellulosic feedstock because these materials are not directly in demand for food, as is the case with most biofuels made from grains. Lignocellulosic biomass can come from agricultural sources (e.g., straw from crops such as wheat, barley, canola, or energy crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus), forest sources (e.g., logging residues, mill residues, trees killed by insects, hybrid species such as willow and poplar) and wastes (e.g., animal manure, demolition wood). Because of Canada’s large agricultural and forest industries, there are potentially large amounts of biomass available in Canada.

Lignocellulosic biomass varies in chemical composition, which is an important factor in its conversion to energy. This biomass can be converted to energy through two key sets of pathways that are currently under development; thermochemical and biochemical conversions. Thermochemical conversion pathways are based on heating biomass at varying temperatures, pressures, and rates, with varying levels of oxygen. These processes can be broadly classified as combustion, gasification, pyrolysis and liquefaction. Biochemical pathways include both chemical and biological conversion processes.

A key challenge in using biomass for energy is accommodating the variation in biomass feedstocks, which are adjusted for use in conversion facilities through alternative production pathways. Further, the biomass feedstocks, which need to be gathered and transported to conversion facilities, are dispersed and vary over time with changing economic conditions. The costs of collection and transportation and the availability of feedstock is a significant component of biomass-based fuel and energy production. There are also challenges in the thermochemical and biochemical conversion pathways in terms of scale up of technologies, process development, and economic viability.

In order to unleash biomass energy, this project encompasses entire production pathways, from field/forest to production of energy and fuels, including collection, transportation, processing,  conversion and utilization. We also consider options for investment decisions and implications of alternative policies on the emergence of this sector. For the current funding allocation, we concentrate on pathways involving fermentation, microbial and hydrothermal conversion. We also focus on large scale biomass transport by pipelines. In Appendix A and B, with the prospect of larger budgets, we propose further investigations into pathways of catalytic conversion of biomass, new fuel development for transportation sector and increased integration with pulp and paper. Appendix C contains combined project tables of objectives, outcomes, team members, budgets, activities, and key decision points.