Woody Biomass - Filling the Fossil Fuel Gap video

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Woody Biomass - Filling the Fossil Fuel Gap

Watch related video: Biomass: Woody or Herbaceous    • Biomass: Woody or Herbaceous? video  

In order to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, we need more environmentally friendly sources of energy. Research is showing that growing plants including trees to produce fuel can be economical and environmentally friendly. Biomass pellets can be made from any biological source such as perennial grasses. Trees, especially willow and poplar trees are another viable source of biomass pellets.

Southern Ontario has the largest concentration of greenhouses in North America and Ontario's greenhouse industry is taking a keen interest in biomass as an alternate heat source. Many greenhouses are 40 acres or more. Keeping that much acreage hot can cost growers more than $50,000 per acre. As well, many homeowners are turning to pellet stoves as an economical alternative to electricity and oil.

With all this interest in biomass, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is supporting biomass research at the University of Guelph. Dr. Mahendra Thimanagari says OMAFRA is also coordinating a feasibility study with Ontario Power Generation that includes every step involved in biomass production.

One of the first steps is to compare how willow and poplar trees and perennial grasses grow under various conditions. To find out, researchers at the University of Guelph are growing them in side-by-side test plots. But research is already showing that willow and poplar trees have some distinct advantages over perennial grasses as a source of biomass. Biomass made from trees is called woody biomass. Woody biomass research is underway right across Canada, supported by the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, part of the Canadian Forest Service of Natural Resources Canada.

At the University of Guelph, a thorough analysis is underway to determine whether growing and processing willow and poplar trees to produce woody biomass can be feasible and beneficial in Ontario. Since 2006, the university has been home to about 57 hectares of willow and poplar trees. Dr. Andrew Gordon says their research includes five areas: a basic economic analysis, a life cycle analysis, a risk analysis, determining the best varieties for various conditions, and whether the trees improve the land by recycling nutrients.

Willow and poplar trees grow well on marginal land, so unlike perennial grasses, they don't use land that could be used to grow food. It takes four years to establish a good crop of willow and poplar trees. After the first year of growth, the trees are cut down leaving stumps in the ground. More than 20 new shoots sprout from each stump and three years later, the trees are ready to be harvested. After the harvest, willow trees continue to coppice, growing many new shoots from the stumps.

For landowners, growing willow and poplar trees for fuel can become a new income opportunity and there's lots of support to get them started. Derek Sidders, National Coordinator of the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre says there are plantation exhibits across Canada that include input costs and output values for this new land management regime.

Willow and poplar trees need little or no fertilizer because leaves that fall from the trees add nutrients to the soil. Dr. Naresh Thevathasan manages and evaluates the research project at the University of Guelph. He says their research suggests that about two to three tonnes of carbon per hectare is being added to the soil annually and that this helps to reduce inorganic fertilizer application.

Trees are harvested every three years. A plantation of trees can last for about 22 years or seven harvests. To harvest the trees the researchers use a specialized harvester and baler. The harvester leaves about two inches of tree stump in the ground and since it rides above the ground, it can handle rough terrain.

Samples of burned willow pellets were tested for unburned carbon and clinker, harmful residues that can corrode metal and clog burning systems. Dr. Animesh Dutta says there was very little ash and unburned carbon as well as less clinker within the ash. An analysis of the gas also yielded good results, with virtually no carbon monoxide and low oxygen content which is very good for biomass combustion systems. The final analysis shows that willow pellets burn more efficiently and cleaner than pellets made from perennial grasses.

The research project is revealing a lot of evidence showing that growing and processing willow and poplar trees for fuel can be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Dr. Gordon says not only are there environmental benefits associated with the growing and production of these two tree species, but at the same time it's very good for the rural economy and most importantly, it can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.