Agricultural waste to energy including poultry manure

Waste to Energy & Biofuel Projects Backed in BC

13 August 2012

The agricultural industry in British Columbia, Canada is set to benefit from an investment in two waste to energy and biofuel projects under the Canada-B.C. Agri-Innovation Program.

According to the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, an investment totalling $289,175 will go toward two projects to explore turning agricultural waste into quality biofuels that will create new or additional revenue streams for farmers:

The ministry said that $142,575 will be made available to Burnaby based Diacarbon Energy, which specialists in developing carbon neutral and carbon negative products.

The company is developing a project to convert agricultural wastes such as anaerobic digestate, poultry litter and spent mushroom substrate into biocoal. The company will also research the use of this biocoal as an industrial fuel and energysource.

A further $146,600 has been made available to Chilliwack based sustainable solutions developer for the equestrian industry, GreenScene AgriTek to expand the use of its reclamation and recycling technology to create a quality biofuel from used horse bedding.

The goal is to develop a model for future commercialisation that will take this waste product and reclaim the wood component to produce a quality biofuel that can be used in greenhouse boilers and for electricity co-generation.

Initially, the target market for their biofuel will be greenhouse operations in the Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley area. These facilities could save significantly on their annual heating costs.

These investments are being provided under Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial agreement.

The Canada-B.C. Agri-Innovation Program supports projects that lead to innovation and enhanced profitability and competitiveness, both on-farm and throughout the rest of the supply chain.

"B.C's new Agrifoods Strategy identifies the development of new businesses and market innovations including participation in energy and carbon efficiency, renewable energy and bioproducts development," explained B.C. Minister of Agriculture Don McRae.

The program is delivered by the IAF on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture.