Bioenergy is energy generated from different types of biological processes. Ontario has plentiful sources of bioenergy, including residual materials from forestry operations that are left to decay on the forest floor, waste matter from agricultural production and animal livestock activities, and by-products of food-processing operations. In addition, the potential energy of these materials is lost as methane gas is slowly released into the environment.
Technologies now exist to use this energy to contribute to Ontario's energy targets – without interfering with commercial production processes and in a manner that often provides net environmental benefits - while reducing our dependence on non-renewable fuels.
Biomass
One major example of bioenergy is biomass. Biomass is a renewable source of energy that uses organic materials to produce heat. Wood by-products, plants, crops and animal waste are used instead of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Burning this organic waste generates the heat and steam that are needed to spin electricity-producing turbines. Cow manure, for example, is a source of biomass energy since animal waste gives off methane gas.
Biomass can be processed or burned in the following ways:
- by direct combustion involving burning biomass in a boiler to produce high-pressure steam for a steam turbine
- by co-firing, which is the mixing and burning of biomass with another fuel source
- by pyrolysis, the process of decomposing biomass in a high-temperature, low-oxygen environment to produce liquid bio-oil
- by gasification, which is a low-oxygen, high-temperature process that decomposes biomass into a synthesis gas of carbon monoxide and hydrogen
Biogas
Biogas is combustible gas used as cooking gas in agricultural communities. Composed largely of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, it is produced by fermenting animal and human waste in the absence of oxygen (an anaerobic process). Solids, remaining after the fermentation is complete, are used as organic fertilizer.
Landfill Gas
Landfill gas is produced when microorganisms break down organic material in the landfill, and is comprised of approximately 50-60 percent methane and 40-50 percent carbon dioxide. At most landfills in the United States, these greenhouse gases are simply burned off, or “flared.”
Resources:
The Canadian Bioenergy Association: Industry association
Agri-Energy Producers' Association of Ontario: Ontario farmers’ association promoting the development of farm-based renewable electricity generation, with particular emphasis on biogas
Ontario Power Generation: Provides information about energy production from biomass, including a video about the testing of biomass in Ontario.
The U.S. Department of Energy Guide to Tribal Energy Development: Contains a section on producing energy from biomass.