Archive for the ‘Biomass’ Category

The case for biofuels in our energy mix

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Fossil fuels are an integral part of the global economy, and will be for many years. But that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to introduce alternatives into Canada’s energy mix or explore new, innovative fuel sources. One of the greatest hurdles we have to overcome isn’t technological or structural – it’s debunking myths and misperceptions about renewable fuels that prevent us as a society from seeing the benefits clearly.

via The case for biofuels in our energy mix.

Surrey’s Move Toward Sustainable Future

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

“Surrey will have a refuse and recycling fleet by 2014 powered … by a renewable form of natural gas [biomethane] made from the city’s own wastes.”

It is great to see that Surrey’s vision of going green is now being realized also in the waste handling and fuel generation area.  Read more about it here.

Surrey’s Move Toward Sustainable Future

CLIMATE NEWS SCAN – 29 November 2011

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:

  • Climate talks begin in Durban and the energy research imperative
  • United Nations predicts more frequent extreme weather
  • What’s next for Keystone XL?

The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business in partnership with the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: picsscan@uvic.ca.

Authors: Neil ThomsonCalyn ShawNeil SalmondKristina Welch

Editors: James TanseyRobyn Meyer

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Green super slime a potential solution to greenhouse gases

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Carbon-catching algae have been chosen as one of four “flagship” projects at the council, which has of budget of almost $1 billion and 4,000 staff across Canada.

“The idea behind a flagship,” said McDougall, “is to do something really important that would be substantial in scale and make a real difference to Canada if you could pull it off.”

Here is a solid story about Algae and carbon capture – this is definately one of many solutions humankind needs to work on.  Growing algae in sewage by injecting CO2 and then converting the algae to fuel seems like a suitable way to get started.  

via Green algae a CO2 sink with great potential

Accelerating the Growth of Your Cleantech Company

Friday, October 21st, 2011

GreenTech Exchange (GTE) presents Mr. Eamonn Percy…

Accelerating the Growth of Your Cleantech Company


Ready to take your organization to the next level? 
In this GreenTech Exchange (GTE) event, the focus is to address some of the strategic and business issues for emerging BC Cleantech companies by providing practical advice and observations on how they can accelerate their development and achieve sustainable growth. With a proven track record of success with such companies as Ford, Pirelli, Ballard and Powertech, our Keynote Speaker is a seasoned technology executive and a veteran of the Clean Energy/Cleantech sector.
How is the world changing for BC Cleantech companies?
Competition is heating up; global economic uncertainty is spreading; energy prices are fluctuating, and new regions are vying to be leaders in the Cleantech hubs. With numerous Cleantech companies emerging from British Columbia, it has never been more critical for local Cleantech companies to accelerate growth in order to create a sustainable local Cleantech sector.
What will you learn in this session? 
Learn how to grow your Cleantech company by:
  • Penetrating new global markets
  • Building a strategic plan and achieving organizational alignment
  • Developing top talent
  • Creating a culture of relentless action
About Our Speaker
Eamonn Percy is an accomplished business leader with a track record of success in delivering performance and profitability, in C-level leadership roles, with global companies in the energy, technology and engineering sectors.
From 2008 to 2010 he was President and COO of Powertech Labs. Working in close co-operation with the Executive Chair, he set the company on a high growth plan by developing and implementing a new strategic plan and creating a strong financial position, resulting in a 30% revenue growth, doubling of operating income and the return to cash flow positive. From 2002 to 2008, he built a thriving business advisory firm focused on implementing strategic growth initiatives. From 1997 to 2002, he was Vice-President, Operations, for Ballard Power Systems where he played a key role in building organizational capability and effective working partnerships with key global partners such as Daimler and Ford Motor Company. From 1992 to 1997, he was responsible for the restructuring and dramatic turnaround of Pirelli Cables and Optical Systems, where it was returned to strong profitability and transformed into Canada’s largest supplier of fibre optic cable with sales of over $75 million per annum.
Eamonn has completed Executive Education in Leading and Managing Change at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and earned an MBA (Finance) from University of Toronto, a B. Eng. (Electrical with an Economics Minor) from Lakehead University and a Dip. Tech. (Electrical Power) from British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Currently, he chairs the UBC Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC) Advisory Board, and is a member of Mayor Diane Watts’ Clean Energy Advisory Network, and a member of the UBC School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Industry Advisory Committee. He is a past board member of Lakehead University Board of Governors and the Architectural Institute of BC Board.
In 2007, Eamonn received the BCIT Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership and Service to the Community and is also a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 award.
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Will the Transition to Renewables Be Fast or Slow?

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

The technology is dangerous, expensive and hard to find.That was the conclusion of a panel convened by the U.S. Navy in the 1850s to determine whether the fleet should switch from boats powered by sails to ones that run on coal, according to Ray Mabus, the current Secretary of the Navy. Nonetheless, the switch took place, and in a few years time, coal ruled the seas.

Good summary of energy history and how society has changed energy sources a couple of times already in the last few hundred years.  How quickly will it go this time?  Rear more in this story from Greentech media.  How fast will the Transition Be.

Proving that garbage really does suck – The Irish Times – Fri, Aug 26, 2011

Sunday, August 28th, 2011

ENVAC: AN INNOVATIVE Swedish waste collection system called Envac that uses vacuum pumps to suck waste from bins into a central biogas burner is to be installed at Cité Verte, a green city development in Quebec in Canada.A system of underground pipes will connect directly to waste drop-off points for organic waste, recyclables and all other types of refuse. A powerful vacuum is created to suck the material into a local substation, where the organic waste is turned into biogas, the recyclables are processed and the other waste is incinerated to produce electricity or heat.

These Swedes are really quite clever in how they manage garbage.  Would be great to see more garbage handled this way and less garbage trucks.

Read more here Proving that garbage really does suck

The Tiny German Village That Went Off the Grid

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

In 1998, the gears began turning to convert Juhnde, a tiny village in Saxony, Germany, into a bioenergy hub that receives every bit of its electricity (and most of its heat) from biomass. The system went live in 2005, and its subsequent success has turned Juhnde into a celebrity in green circles, as well as a model for other bioenergy-seeking towns and cities.

http://discovermagazine.com/photos/14-has-the-future-of-energy-arrived-in-tiny-german-village

Clean Energy Fund announcements

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Pytrade Canada will get a million dollars to build a fast-pyrolysis plant in Kitimat to heat biomass, which will produce bio-oil, charcoal and gas.   Bio-oil can be used to create electricity for the grid.

Mavi Turbines will receive 470-thousand to build, deploy and monitor a commercial scale tidal energy converter near Prince Rupert, specifically designed to serve remote communities.

Read more about the project here:: Kitimat, Prince Rupert Clean Energy Projects Receive Provincial Money

BC Bioenergy Network – Torrefaction: Myth or Reality

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Check out the latest video from isCleaner.  This one is about Torrefied wood and how this will change the way wood is being processed and marketed as an efficient and valid coal replacement.  Would be great to hear what you think about the concept.