Archive for the ‘Biomass’ Category
The case for biofuels in our energy mix
Saturday, February 4th, 2012Fossil 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.
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.
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 Thomson, Calyn Shaw, Neil Salmond, Kristina Welch
Editors: James Tansey, Robyn Meyer
Green super slime a potential solution to greenhouse gases
Monday, November 28th, 2011Carbon-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.
Accelerating the Growth of Your Cleantech Company
Friday, October 21st, 2011GreenTech Exchange (GTE) presents Mr. Eamonn Percy…
- Penetrating new global markets
- Building a strategic plan and achieving organizational alignment
- Developing top talent
- Creating a culture of relentless action
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.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, 2011ENVAC: 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, 2011In 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, 2011Pytrade 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, 2011Check 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.






