What is BioEconomy?
The material left over from producing lumber is residual biomass. Wood chips make up the majority component of this biomass which are used in the making of pulp for paper, and are sold to Alberta Pacific Forest Industries pulp mill near Boyle.
Other biomasses remaining are bark, sawdust and shavings. Shavings are bagged and sold as animal bedding products across North America. Some bark is burnt in a controlled manner to produce heat for drying lumber and heating the mill buildings. Sawdust is used locally as an absorbent in the oil industry.
Northland is always looking at ways of increasing the value of residual products for the bioeconomy.
Bioeconomy is the sustainable processing of turning biomass into a broad range of marketable products and energy, including chemicals, fuels, power and materials (International Energy Association).
Biochar, is a form of charcoal produced by heating biomass (eg. sawdust) in a low or no-oxygen environment (pyrolysis), that then can be used in a variety of applications such as reclamation and water cleanup. The pyrolysis occurs at temperatures below 700˚C;
Northland will be conducting a trial, using a pre-commercial pyrolysis unit to produce biochar. Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) will be assisting in training NFPL employees on the operation of the unit.
By producing biochar locally, NFPL will have examples of product for the local energy system to evaluate for use.
