{"id":59743,"date":"2023-05-18T11:45:40","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T18:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energi.media\/?p=59743"},"modified":"2023-05-18T11:45:40","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T18:45:40","slug":"cer-canadas-bioenergy-diversity-and-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energi.media\/news\/cer-canadas-bioenergy-diversity-and-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"CER: Canada\u2019s bioenergy diversity and potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article was published by the Canada Energy Regulator<\/a> on May 17, 2023.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Canada has a well-established bioenergy sector, contributing to over 6 per cent(<\/span>1)<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0of total primary energy in 2021. Canada\u2019s bioenergy sector has been steadily growing in the past two decades with significant expansions expected in the near future.(<\/span>2)<\/a><\/sup>(<\/span>3)<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Considered a low carbon form of energy, bioenergy is expected to contribute to net-zero efforts both in Canada and globally.<\/p>\n

Total primary energy available to Canada from biomass is around 1,800\u00a0petajoules (PJ) per year. When converted to end-use products, only some of that primary energy becomes end-use energy (some energy is lost during processing). For simplicity, if it is assumed primary energy contained within all biomass feedstocks is converted to end-use energy with an efficiency of 35 per cent, then the total national end-use energy from biomass feedstocks would be around 630 PJ per year. That represents enough energy, including heating and electricity, for over 7 million households in Canada.(<\/span>4)<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Figure\u00a01: Annual primary energy supply by different biomass feedstocks by province or territory<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sources: Canada Energy Regulator Estimated Values.
Data from:
Biomass Inventory Mapping and Analysis Tool (BIMAT) – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Torchlight Bioresources, Renewable Natural Gas (Biomethane) Feedstock Potential in Canada
Navius Research. Biofuels in Canada 2021,
Statistics Canada, Table 32-10-0125-01 Cattle and calves, farm and meat production,
Canada Forestry Services – Forest area harvested on private and Crown lands in Canada.
Description: The graph highlights each province’s estimated annual maximum primary energy potential from currently available biomass feedstocks. The annual maximum primary energy potential is divided to six different feedstock types: purpose-grown energy crops, crop residue, forestry, forestry residue, urban waste, and livestock residue. Purpose-grown energy crops are estimated based on 3 per cent prime land(5<\/a>) use. Forestry is estimated based on a 5 per cent wood supply(6<\/a>) use. The estimated values do not include animal fats, animal oils, and waste cooking oil.\u00a0 To see an animated version of this graph, click here<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Different kinds of bioenergy have different energy potentials<\/h3>\n

Each biomass feedstock has its own energy density. There are two ways to measure this. Primary energy is the energy contained within raw biomass before converting it to end-use products such as biofuels and electricity. End-use energy is the energy contained within the end-use products. Sometimes, the raw product is also the end-use product (such as firewood).<\/p>\n

Not all feedstocks are suitable to produce all types of bioenergy. For example, firewood is preferred for electricity generation or heating, whereas municipal solid waste is mainly used to make biofuels like biogas and renewable natural gas.<\/p>\n

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Where does biomass for bioenergy come from?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bioenergy is made primarily with biomass feedstocks. \u00a0<\/span>Biomass is organic material from plants or animals, which is either burned to create energy, or converted to different products before burning. Bioenergy can be in the form of biofuels like ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and renewable natural gas; it is also used to generate electricity and produce hydrogen.<\/p>\n

Bioenergy feedstocks are diverse, ranging from livestock manure to trees. These feedstocks can be purpose-grown, like plants and trees specifically grown to become bioenergy, or residue(<\/span>7)<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0from another activity. They are categorized below by origin:<\/p>\n