Potential in BC

In B.C., wood residue – material left over from forestry operations – is the type of biomass most commonly used to generate power. Wood residue is heavy, bulky and costly to transport. It must be used close to where it is produced.

Right now, 0.5 percent of BC Hydro's generating capacity, or approximately 55 MW, is produced by independent power producers utilizing biomass technologies. More than 600 MW in total is produced provincially, mostly at pulp and paper mills on Vancouver Island and on the coast, which use all the electricity they generate to power their own facilities. While some of these existing projects may be green, it's important to note that BC Hydro has not assessed them against green energy criteria.

More than 6.1 million bone dry tonnes of wood residue are generated annually in the mainland region of BC. About 74% of the total is consumed in pulp mill boilers, cogeneration plants (plants which produce both electricity and heat by controlled burning of wood residue), power plants and other facilities.

The balance is incinerated in beehive burners – large conical steel structures. This practice makes no productive use of the resource. It also results in the emission of greenhouse gases, as well as fine particulates and other air pollutants that have been linked to certain health problems. Using this wood residue as fuel for cogeneration and power plants would provide in the range of 200 MW of additional power.

An additional 1.5 million tonnes of non-forest industry wood residue is another potential source of fuel for electricity in B.C.

In B.C., opportunities also exist to generate power from other biomass resources, such as demolition and land clearing waste, municipal solid waste and landfill gas.