Got Wood? Got Energy

Today, Canadian Thanksgiving, I’m happy to announce yet another reason I’m a thankful, proud Canadian.

Dynamotive, a BC company, has created a world first -- a clean source of energy from wood waste.

Forestry is one of the most profitable industries here in British Columbia, a fact that enviro-friendly folks like myself accept with great chagrin. Now, though, it seems we are seeing positives from that dubious distinction.

Disgusted by the prospect of simply burning up wood waste and further polluting our planet, the folks at Dynamotive conceived this brilliant product. Wood is chipped, turned into sawdust, then through some magical process probably involving elves and wood sprites, BioOil is created.

BioOil is an ideal clean fuel because it is greenhouse gas neutral, does not produce SOx (sulfur dioxide) emissions during combustion and produces approximately half the NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions in comparison with fossil fuels.

It also doesn’t emit CO2, if I understand the figures right. But it’s really all Greek to me. You can click here for the scientific breakdown comparing BioOil to light and heavy fossil fuel oils.

The firm is seeking to do more with the product, which is a very recent creation. The benefits are two-fold. One, the plants which would be making the wood products and creating wood waste will no longer be disposing of the wood in archaic fashion, thus reducing both waste and harmful emissions resulting from burning chemically treated lumber. And two, it will be providing clean energy to local homes, thus reducing the use of fossil fuels and the emissions thereof.

The Company and its strategic partners are currently in construction on the worlds's first BioOil co-generation facility located at Erie Flooring and Wood Products in West Lorne, Ontario. The 2.5 megawatt plant combines DynaMotive Energy Systems' fast pyrolysis technology with Magellan Aerospace Orenda Division's OGT 2500 gas turbine. Erie Flooring will provide wood residue from its operations and utilize electricity produced from the turbine to power its mills and steam to heat its lumber kilns, with the balance of the electricity exported to the Ontario power grid. In addition to providing the energy needs of the sawmill, enough green electricity to power 2500 homes will be realized.

But wait, there’s more. The extraction process for BioOil isn’t just applicable to wood. It can be used with cane sugar, wheat straw, and rice hulls. While Canada may be the world’s bread basket and leading lumber supplier, this flexibility of the product means that Asia and the Carribbean and probably Africa, if not the whole world, can all get in on the program, and probably even create great new financial dividends for each nation, through residuals of products they’re already creating.

It’s still early in BioOil’s lifecycle, but the potential is amazing. Simply phenomenal. I’m thrilled to see big industry not only cleaning up its act, but cleaning up for others, too.

Let’s hope more corporations take the innovative lead and try to conjure other enviromentally beneficial advancements so we can all breathe a little easier.