Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Ideal Region for Establishing Bioheat Industry in Eastern Ontario: Report



Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SD&G) is a top region in North America for growing low ash feedstocks like switchgrass required to fuel an industrial bioheat sector, according to a new report by leading energy crop consulting firm Resource Efficient Agriculture Production (REAP) Canada.

The report prepared for the SD&G Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) states that a biomass densification facility in SD&G could serve residential pellet markets as well as higher value local commercial pellet fuel markets such as greenhouses, schools, or municipal buildings, with potential exports to European markets.

It is evident that the production base, employment creation potential, and environmental benefits of a warm season grass pellet fuel industry could have major socioeconomic and environmental benefits to Eastern Ontario,states the report, entitled Establishing Bioheat in Eastern Ontario Utilizing Switchgrass and Agricultural Biomass for Solid Fuel.

This is great news for farmers and industry in the region,said Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry MP Guy Lauzon. Growing switchgrass for energy will help the region meet the energy needs of the future while improving agronomics today. I commend the SD&G CFDC for taking the lead on this innovative agricultural research project to establish a bioheat industry in Eastern Ontario.

The report also found that There are no perceived major technical threats to the development of a grass pellet industry in Eastern Ontario and that Overwintered switchgrass appears to have all the necessary attributes to be a clean combustion feedstock. Switchgrass is a perennial warm season grass native to North America that is now being considered for use in several bioenergy conversion processes, including cellulosic ethanol production, biogas, and direct combustion for thermal energy applications.

Our Government has a comprehensive action plan to fight climate change,said Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MP Pierre Lemieux. “Innovative regional economic development projects like this ensure local climate change solutions benefit citizens of the region.

The report was part of an Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) Regional Project to test the technical and logistical feasibility of growing and pelletizing switchgrass in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Partners in the project include the SD&G CFDC, Hendrick Seeds, Forman Farms and DES Environmental.

Bioheat generation from biomass is an environmentally friendly way to heat homes, greenhouses, and larger commercial and industrial buildings, said SD&G CFDC Executive Director Gay Hamilton. As thermal energy applications using switchgrass approach commercial scale-up there is strong potential for creating good, green collar jobs in the region, and for increasing on-farm income.

Other key findings from Establishing Bioheat in Eastern Ontario Utilizing Switchgrass and Agricultural Biomass for Solid Fuel include:

In Eastern Ontario, there is a relative abundance of marginal soils that could be adapted to switchgrass cultivation. Additionally, the climate of the region is conducive to switchgrass production, with adequate heat and rainfall as well as a cold winter period that facilitates fall mowing and spring baling as a means to improve biomass quality.

The market opportunity that appears to have the greatest financial sustainability and least long term risk would be to emphasize development of regional residential pellet markets and also service higher value local commercial pellet fuel markets such as heating greenhouses, schools, or government correctional facilities.

Export to the US Northeast and Europe could provide an excellent opportunity for the absorption of large volumes of pellets while nascent local markets are still under development. Eastern Ontario has a good comparative advantage to ship pellets to Europe relative to other Regions.

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