Improving Energy Performance in Canada – Report to Parliament Under the Energy Efficiency Act For the Fiscal Year 2007-2008

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Chapter 4: Energy Science and Technology

Introduction

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) invests in the research, development and demonstration (R,D&D) of new and emerging energy science and technology (S&T) that produces economic, social and environmental benefits for Canadians. NRCan’s Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD) and CanmetENERGY lead the federal government’s energy S&T operations.

The OERD oversees the management of the Program of Energy Research and Development (PERD) and Technology and Innovation Research and Development (T&IR&D). These programs allocated over $84 million in 2007–2008 to help find new, long-term, cleaner and more efficient solutions to reducing environmental emissions by developing and disseminating new knowledge and new technologies through R,D&D initiatives. The OERD is also implementing the $230-million ecoENERGY Technology Initiative announced in mid-2007. About 75 percent of the programs and activities allocated funding by the OERD are managed and carried out by the Department (including CanmetENERGY).

CanmetENERGY generates and provides knowledge and technologies to advance the development and use of innovative solutions contributing to the well-being of Canadians and to progress toward meeting Canada’s economic, social and environmental policy objectives. It works with industry, academia, utilities, associations, nongovernmental organizations and other governments to develop and demonstrate energy-efficient, alternative and renewable energy technologies and processes. It undertakes projects and activities in the following areas of expertise:

• clean energy systems for buildings and communities
• clean electric power generation
• clean energy systems for industry
• clean transportation energy
• environmentally sustainable oil and gas development
• bioenergy

This chapter describes in detail the programs, activities and 2007–2008 key achievements of the OERD, CanmetENERGY and other partners in energy S&T.

Program of Energy Research and Development

Objective

To fund research and development (R&D) designed to ensure a sustainable energy future for Canada in the best interests of our economy and our environment.

Description

PERD’s budget for 2007–2008 was approximately $56.6 million. NRCan allocated $42.6 million to energy R&D programs managed and carried out in the Department, more than 50 percent of which contributed to improved energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energy sources in Canada. The remaining $13 million was allocated to 12 federal departments and agencies that are PERD partners.

Efficiencies are sought in energy production, distribution and end-use. Production encompasses fossil fuels and alternative sources, including biomass. Examples of funded projects are outlined in the remainder of this chapter.

During 2007–2008, based on recommendations of an advisory panel and as mandated in the 2005 Budget, the management of energy S&T delivery was reorganized into a streamlined set of portfolios encompassing the whole innovation chain, from basic research to applied research, pilot plants and demonstrations, thereby ensuring faster market access to technologies developed with federal funds.

For more information:
nrcan.gc.ca/eneene/science/perdprde-eng.php

Technology and Innovation Research and Development

Objective

To advance promising greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction technologies through R&D, promote demonstration and early adoption initiatives to achieve long-term GHG reductions, and strengthen Canada’s technology capacity.

Implemented in 2003 with $115 million in federal funding over five years, T&IR&D is based on long-term strategic planning that takes into account expected energy futures and visions to 2025. R&D is conducted in the strategic areas of advanced end-use efficiency technologies in buildings, transportation, industry, decentralized energy production (including renewables), biotechnology, the hydrogen economy, and cleaner fossil fuels (e.g. searching for efficiencies in bitumen and heavy oil, unconventional gas supply, and clean coal and carbon capture). An expenditure review reduced funding to $109 million.

The T&IR&D budget for 2007–2008 was $28 million. NRCan allocated $20.7 million to energy R&D programs managed and carried out in the department. Key NRCan R&D achievements contributing to improved energy efficiency in Canada are included in the programs described in this chapter. The remaining $7.3 million was allocated to seven federal departments that are T&IR&D partners.

A result achieved through investment in renewable energy over many years (through PERD and T&IR&D funding) prompted Iogen Corporation, an Ottawa producer of industrial enzymes, to build the first commercial plant in Canada to convert waste biomass like straw into cellulosic ethanol fuel. Using waste biomass feedstocks has the potential for life-cycle GHG emissions reductions of 80 percent compared with gasoline, and biomass feedstocks offer the added advantage of costing less than grain. NRCan estimates that ethanol produced with Iogen’s technology could generate GHG reductions about twice as large as the amounts achievable with conventional grain-based ethanol.

ecoENERGY Technology Initiative

The ecoENERGY Technology Initiative is a $230-million federal government investment in S&T to accelerate the development and market readiness of clean energy technology solutions. The Initiative is a component of ecoACTION, the suite of government actions targeting clean air and GHG emissions reductions. It will help in the search for long-term solutions to reduce and eliminate air pollutants from energy production and use. The Initiative aims at eight high-priority technology areas, is based on extensive consultation with stakeholder groups and promotes public-private collaboration.

Energy Technology Priority Areas

The Initiative is directed toward increasing clean energy supplies, reducing energy waste and reducing pollution from conventional energy. In this context, its eight priority technology areas are as follows:

• cleaner fossil fuels – focusing on the environmental aspects of oil sands development
• clean coal and carbon capture and storage
• distributed electricity generation from renewable energy and other clean energy sources
• next-generation nuclear energy technologies
• bio-based energy systems
• low-emissions industrial systems
• clean transportation systems
• built environment – focusing on the integration of renewable energy technologies in buildings and community systems

NRCan identified these priorities by consulting stakeholders, including the National Advisory Panel on Sustainable Energy Science and Technology, the Energy Technology Working Group of the Council of Energy Ministers, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, and the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

The ecoENERGY Technology Initiative focuses heavily on private-public collaborative arrangements. The Initiative will be delivered primarily through the following:

• responses to NRCan calls for competitive, theme-based project proposals from the national energy S&T community
• federal laboratories, to continue and establish clean energy research in the eight priority areas of the Initiative

Clean Energy Systems for Buildings and Communities

Objective

To develop, demonstrate and promote – in domestic and foreign markets – technologies, practical decision-making tools, processes, codes, standards and best practices that help communities select more efficient and cost-effective energy, waste and water technologies and design solutions to support a sustainable energy future based on reduced energy consumption and GHG emissions.

Description

CanmetENERGY plays a leadership role in the R,D&D of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies for houses, buildings and communities by

• fostering the commercialization of new technologies
• identifying and developing opportunities for integration of technologies
• developing infrastructure to support innovation, such as codes, policies and standards
• developing linkages between utilities, industry and academia
• supporting training and education
• disseminating results and findings
• facilitating the export of Canadian technologies to international markets
• engaging in international co-operation

Specific work includes the development of design, modelling and analysis tools and integrated design approaches, such as building energy simulation software making it possible to achieve greater energy efficiency to be implemented at minimal incremental costs. CanmetENERGY develops, distributes and supports building energy simulation software for the Canadian construction industry and Government of Canada ecoACTION programs.

CanmetENERGY is active in the R,D&D of energy-efficient heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration technologies, including standards, efficiency labelling, heat recovery systems, integration of technologies and adaptation to the Canadian context. CanmetENERGY assists in increasing the use of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic energy technologies in Canada by developing technologies, standards, policies and programs to create a Canadian-based, globally competitive solar industry. Other work includes community energy systems, daylighting, intelligent building controls and recommissioning of buildings.

CanmetENERGY’s partnerships with industry help to build advanced residential and commercial buildings that incorporate a wide array of innovative technologies and consume significantly less energy than their conventional counterparts. Under cost-sharing arrangements to accelerate the development and commercialization of a new generation of advanced and energy-efficient technologies, CanmetENERGY is helping the Canadian residential and commercial building industry produce some of the most environmentally advanced structures on the planet.

Key 2007-2008 Achievements

• CanmetENERGY is helping to update the Model National Energy Code for Buildings, the revised version of which will be released in 2012. In 2007–2008, the Standing Committee on Energy Efficiency in Buildings was formed, as were five task groups. CanmetENERGY is a member of the Task Group on Building Envelope and the Task Group on Building Energy Performance Compliance. A scoping exercise for each task group was undertaken, and funding has been put in place.
• CanmetENERGY increased the number of users of the RETScreen^® Clean Energy Project Analysis Software to more than 147 000 people in 222 countries, adding an average of 1000 new users every week. More than 160 colleges and universities worldwide are now using RETScreen for education. As well, CanmetENERGY launched a major new version of the RETScreen software, including a suite of new models to evaluate energy efficiency measures for residential, commercial and institutional buildings; communities; and industrial facilities and processes.
• CanmetENERGY facilitated the successful technology transfer and demonstration of a combined photovoltaic and solar thermal hybrid technology with the Solar Buildings Research Network, headquartered at Concordia University. The Network developed and implemented a strategy to effectively transfer this knowledge to architects, manufacturers, home builders and utilities.
• CanmetENERGY and Doug Tarry Homes Ltd. piloted the Solar Ready homes project, which required the builder to incorporate defined criteria into its construction designs and practices in order to accommodate solar hot-water technology.
• CanmetENERGY is facilitating the integrated design process, a new approach to designing, to enable a new laboratory to relocate NRCan employees to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The objective is to achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency, reduce energy bills and minimize the use of program funding for building operations.
• CanmetENERGY continues to see the benefits of its work with industry leaders in heating refrigeration systems. CIMCO Refrigeration developed its ECO CHILL^® system with NRCan technical support and expertise and has been selected to provide all refrigeration systems where heating and refrigeration are required at the Vancouver Olympic games.
• Ice Kube Systems Ltd. (IKS) has signed an agreement to demonstrate the application of IKS modular refrigeration/heat-pump units integrated with underground thermal energy storage for district energy. This integrated system will supply 240 tonnes of refrigeration to a multi-pad indoor arena and ensure the recovery and re-use of almost 100 percent of the heat rejected by the refrigeration process.
• CanmetENERGY developed a Canadian Advanced Recommissioning (RCx) course and delivered two workshops in collaboration with NRCan’s Office of Energy Efficiency, BC Hydro and Union Gas Limited. The RCx course is part of CanmetENERGY’s commitment to develop RCx training programs, guidelines and tools to help create awareness and promote best practices that reduce energy consumption and improve the performance of building systems.
• CanmetENERGY developed the Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) process, which was piloted during the design of the mixed-use Emerald Hills Urban Village in Strathcona County, Alberta. SUN offers an approach for translating broader concepts of sustainable development and living, including energy efficiency, alternative energy and reduced water use, into applications at the neighbourhood level.
• CanmetENERGY develops and supports building simulation software for the Canadian housing industry. Last year, its HOT2000⁹ software was used to run simulations for energy efficiency upgrades on 106 701 Canadian houses, bringing the total to date to 386 307.

For more information:
canmetenergy.nrcan.gc.ca/eng/buildings_communities.html

Clean Electric Power Generation

Objective

To develop and apply technologies for renewable electricity production and for cleaner power generation from fossil fuels, with the goal of increasing efficiency and achieving the reduction and, ultimately, the elimination of emissions of acid rain precursors, GHGs, particulates and identified priority substances, such as mercury, trace elements and organic compounds.

Description

CanmetENERGY’s work on clean electric power generation focuses on improving the economics and efficiency of renewable energy technologies, including wind energy, solar power, small and low-head hydro, marine energy and energy storage. CanmetENERGY’s R&D supports the growth of the renewable energy industry in Canada by

• fostering the development of new technologies
• identifying and developing opportunities for the integration of renewables
• developing infrastructure to support innovation, such as codes, policies and standards
• developing linkages between utilities, industry and academia
• conducting resource assessments

CanmetENERGY also focuses on improving the performance of, and reducing emissions from, existing fossil fuel power plants. Moreover, it focuses on developing new advanced cycles for the conversion of fossil fuels to electricity with complete or near-complete capture and elimination of CO₂ and other emissions. Additional research includes work on issues associated with the transport and storage of CO₂. Through advanced tools and technologies, CanmetENERGY assists major industrial energy consumers in reducing the energy intensity of their operations and in reducing GHG emissions and emissions of other air pollutants, while enhancing competitiveness and profitability.

CanmetENERGY’s work on emerging technologies in clean power includes new forms of power generation, such as wind, small hydro, natural gas combined-cycle plants and advanced fluidized bed combustion. Significant R&D also focuses on CO₂-neutral combustion systems, CO₂ sequestration, CO₂ injection for enhanced oil recovery, advanced power generation cycles, clean coal technologies and distributed energy resources. CanmetENERGY also conducts leading-edge work in the burgeoning priority area of decentralized energy resources, where renewable energy sources are becoming more localized and integrated into the main grid.

CanmetENERGY addresses the technical, institutional and regulatory barriers to clean power by promoting grid integration, developing standards, generating knowledge and transferring important information to Canadian decision-makers. CanmetENERGY provides stakeholders with the necessary information to make informed decisions, coordinates various research projects, participates in international committees that establish standards and codes, develops and hosts workshops and conferences, develops publications and produces training tools. CanmetENERGY capitalizes on its sector expertise by carrying out projects in collaboration with key research consortia, including industry, universities, research groups, public services and other departments and governments.

Key 2007-2008 Achievements

• Advanced distributed generation models generated with the CYMDIST software were released, along with case studies. These models and case studies form the basis of tutorial material for utility engineers to improve their knowledge of renewable and distributed generation applications.
• Working with Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (now called EUCI) and Canadian stakeholders, CanmetENERGY organized a national conference to discuss strategic and tactical issues in implementing a “smart grid” network in Canada. The smart grid serves an important role in facilitating energy efficiency programs and integrating renewable and distributed energy resources.
• CanmetENERGY was instrumental in establishing the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee 114 on Marine Energy. CanmetENERGY is chairing this 15-member committee, which will develop international standards. At the same time, CanmetENERGY, working with the Standards Council of Canada, established a mirror committee that will advise on the IEC standards development process to ensure that international standards reflect the development needs of a rapidly growing marine energy industry in Canada.
• Working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and more than 20 agricultural and energy organizations across Canada, CanmetENERGY launched the Integration of Renewable Energy on Farms Web site. The site is a repository of technical information and online tools for analysing the potential for integrating renewable energy sources into individual farms. CanmetENERGY’s expertise was used to develop, screen, validate and consolidate the best information available.
• After carrying out preliminary laboratory studies, CanmetENERGY installed an advanced 6-kilowatt (kW) micro-cogeneration system, coupled to a three-borehole heat storage system and heat pumps, at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT). The system demonstrated the capacity to supply all the heat and electrical energy required by CCHT and to return electrical energy to the grid at nearly three times the overall efficiency of a central power plant.

For more information:
canmetenergy.nrcan.gc.ca/eng/clean_fossils_fuels.html

Clean Energy Systems for Industry

Objective

To identify, encourage and support the development and application of leading-edge, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible processes, practices, products, systems and equipment in Canadian industry to improve its energy efficiency, productivity, competitiveness and profitability, while reducing GHG emissions and other environmental impacts.

Description

CanmetENERGY works with industry to co-manage and share the costs of development and commercialization of a range of technologies, including process integration, learning-based expert systems, combustion systems and controls, manufacturing processes, and environmentally friendly and energy-efficient processes for energy-intensive industries. CanmetENERGY’s R&D in the industry sector focuses on plant-wide industrial process analysis techniques and advanced process control systems that identify and correct inefficiencies in plant operation and design while taking into account energy, economic and environmental aspects.

CanmetENERGY’s R&D also includes the development and testing of semi-pilot-scale plants, pilot plants, prototypes and full-scale field trials. This research evaluates operating performance, energy efficiency and environmental impacts and emerging concepts in chemical and energy conversion, including hydrogen production from hydrocarbon and renewable sources. In addition, CanmetENERGY disseminates technical information to encourage adoption of these techniques and practices in targeted energy-intensive sectors of Canadian industry.

CanmetENERGY clients are from a variety of industries, including pulp and paper, gas, oil upgrading and refining, petrochemicals, engine manufacturing, steel, chemicals, food and drink, solid wood, waste oil recycling and rendering, and specialty ceramic manufacturing. Its other clients are gas and electric utilities, equipment manufacturers and other governments.

Key 2007-2008 Achievements

• CanmetENERGY scientists and research engineers recently completed an important case study of Tembec Inc.’s Skookumchuck pulp mill in southeastern British Columbia. The study points the way to significant reductions in freshwater demands, effluent levels and energy consumption. Although the Skookumchuck mill is already one of the most water- and energy-efficient mills in Canada, the team found room for reductions of up to 20 percent in freshwater demand and the potential to increase the mill’s power generation for export by approximately 4 megawatts. CanmetENERGY is developing software tools to capture the team’s findings so water-intensive processes can be optimized throughout the pulp and paper industry.
• In co-operation with CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories (MMSL), the CANMET-MMSL Experimental Mine in Val-d’Or, Quebec, and Mining Technologies International Inc., CanmetENERGY is developing an energy-efficient diesel/electric hybrid scoop tram for mining operations. A prototype has been built and will undergo field testing shortly. The projected potential benefits over 10 years include more than 170 000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) in energy savings and almost 60 kilotonnes (kt) of CO₂ emissions reduction. Another environmental benefit is lower emissions of particulate matter through the displacement of small diesel engine use.
• In co-operation with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Hydro-Québec, Rio Tinto Alcan and the Université de Sherbrooke, CanmetENERGY launched the NSERC Chair in Industrial Energy Efficiency. The projects and prototypes that are developed will be relevant to many areas of activity and primarily target industrial applications.
• CanmetENERGY is working with Hatch of Mississauga, Ontario, to develop a continuous reduced iron and steelmaking process that improves energy efficiency, reduces costs and enhances competitiveness. The process could save over 60 terajoules (TJ), or 10 000 BOE, per year and lower emissions by 50 kt per installation.
• With CanmetENERGY support, Murox of Boucherville, Quebec, is developing an energy-efficient wall for the commercial, industrial and institutional construction markets. Once commercialized, the projected potential impacts of the wall over 10 years will be energy savings of 685 TJ (112 000 BOE) and CO₂ emissions reductions of 48 kt.
• CanmetENERGY is working with EMPCO (Canada) Ltd. of Whitby, Ontario, on a new slag door for electric arc furnace steelmaking applications. Making the door airtight will ensure that less air infiltrates the furnace chamber, yielding a more energy-efficient process. Over the next 10 years, energy savings could amount to over 3.4 PJ (550 000 BOE), and CO₂ emissions could be reduced by 2 megatonnes.
• CanmetENERGY is working with Airex Industries of Montréal to develop equipment for the recovery and use of waste heat. Adopters of this technology could save 5 PJ (865 000 BOE) and reduce CO₂ emissions by 260 kt.

For more information:
canmetenergy.nrcan.gc.ca/eng/industrial_processes.html

Environmentally Sustainable Oil and Gas Development

Objective

To provide S&T for the continued, secure supply of affordable and cleaner fossil fuels, with little or no adverse environmental impact on GHG and Criteria Air Contaminants (CAC) emissions, and thereby help resolve oil sands environmental (including water) issues and clean air issues for the upstream oil and gas industry.

Description

CanmetENERGY conducts fundamental and applied research to develop knowledge and implement leading-edge technologies for the oil sands sector. Knowledge gained is used to inform energy policy development and industry decisions that will improve the quality of life for Canadians.

CanmetENERGY fosters innovation in oil sands and heavy oil technology through activities ranging from fundamental science to commercial-scale technical support. CanmetENERGY’s strength lies in its staff’s fundamental understanding of the chemistry, physics and engineering of oil sands and heavy oil processes, coupled with sophisticated analytical instrumentation and pilot-scale units providing proof of concept for technologies.

S&T is one tool used by NRCan to make significant progress toward meeting its water and tailings, GHG and other air emissions challenges in the oil and gas sector. Major improvements need to be made in the entire process chain of oil sands and heavy oil development, from the initial extraction to the production of petroleum products. CanmetENERGY’s international client base and partnerships with provincial and territorial governments, industry and academia ensure that the best available technologies in the world can be modified and applied to the resource. Its partnerships also ensure there are synergies and fast-track deployment of new technologies, innovations and knowledge dissemination.

Key 2007-2008 Achievements

• CanmetENERGY worked on fundamental clay-water chemistry interactions. This is important for defining the consolidated tailings (CT) “recipe.” From this fundamental work, a variety of CT chemicals were evaluated, including CO₂. A major project was undertaken on a key requirement for commercialization – the direct sequestration of CO₂ from surface-mined oil sands. The project has identified additional alternative chemicals for the dry stackable tailings activity.
• CanmetENERGY conducted research to gain an understanding of the impact of bitumen chemistry on extraction processes (through interactions with clays). Some of the work involved collaboration with Environment Canada and led to several publications. As a result of the fundamental knowledge acquired concerning the importance of bitumen chemistry in extraction processes, a small project with Titanium Corporation Inc. was launched. In this project, bitumen and naphtha would be removed from the valuable mineral component in froth treatment tailings. This prompted the Government of Alberta to contribute $3.5 million for investigating and commercializing some bitumen and naphtha removal technologies.
• Suncor Energy Inc.’s water chemistry model underwent significant reworking to incorporate it in the company’s new mine plans. CanmetENERGY also completed a study on the fate of naphthenic acids in oil sands related systems. Initial results indicated that clean clays do not provide a sink as hypothesized but organics do provide a sink.
• A comprehensive client-funded project was just completed using CanmetENERGY’s pilot plants, distillation unit, coker, hydrotreater and advanced cracking evaluation unit. CanmetENERGY worked with British Petroleum to simulate the optimal processing scheme for upgrading and refining Canadian bitumen. Their aim was to produce clean transportation fuels, while minimizing energy consumption during the process and removing sulphur to meet stringent ultra-low sulphur contents in fuels. Such conversions by industry are necessary to meet the proposed increases in bitumen production from Alberta.
• The CANMET Hydrocracking Process is designed to process highly aromatic feeds such as bitumen, resulting in 100 percent conversion of the feed with no waste by-products. It was developed in co-operation with Petro-Canada, which built and operated a 5000-barrels-per-day demonstration facility in Montréal. CanmetENERGY scientists are also working with Universal Oil Products (UOP) to provide pilot-plant testing, consultation and analysis of historical and new data. This resulted in UOP signing a licensing agreement and a $1.4-million contract with NRCan for pilot-plant support while UOP builds its own pilot plant.

For more information:
canmetenergy.nrcan.gc.ca/eng/oil_sands.html

Clean Transportation Energy

Objective

To develop and deploy, in partnership with industry, academia and the provinces and territories, leading-edge hydrogen, fuel cell and transportation technologies that reduce GHG emissions and minimize urban air pollution.

Description

CanmetENERGY works with stakeholders in the domestic and international hydrogen and transportation technology industries. These industries include original equipment manufacturers, industry associations, fleet managers, transit authorities, utilities, provincial and territorial governments, research organizations, universities, other federal departments, the U.S. Department of Energy and the International Energy Agency. Together they develop and deploy innovative cleaner transportation technologies and alternative fuels.

R&D partnerships advance the development and deployment of innovative technologies, standards and infrastructure development, propulsion systems, engine controls, and energy and fuel storage systems. CanmetENERGY has worked with Canadian industry for more than 20 years to establish Canada as a world leader in fuel cell and hydrogen-refuelling technologies. It has supported student vehicle challenges since the 1980s. These challenges bring university and college students from across North America and automotive manufacturers together for the purpose of modifying existing vehicles so they can run on a variety of alternative fuels. CanmetENERGY supports the development of alternative transportation fuel technologies, such as those for natural gas, biodiesel and ethanol vehicles, to strengthen a Canadian industry that is now exporting commercial products.

CanmetENERGY managed the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance, a private- and public-sector initiative aimed at developing the infrastructure needed to deploy hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. It also evaluated options for the production and delivery of hydrogen for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and monitored the resulting GHG reductions. Moreover, it developed training, certification and safety standards in support of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Fiscal 2007–2008 was the final year of the program.

Key 2007-2008 Achievements

Research and Development

• Optimized the material composition and fabrication process for hydrogen storage for use in micro fuel cell applications. An early application for this technology may be to replace batteries in cell phones with hydrogen fuel cells that can recharge in five minutes and run twice as long as a standard cell phone.
• Developed a high-density compact rechargeable battery system for electric vehicles that shortens charge time, increases vehicle range and improves safety. This
  0.5-KWh lithium-ion battery module will serve as the building block for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
• Completed the modelling, detailing and optimization of a gasification process for large-scale hydrogen production for potential use in Canada’s oil sands. This process is based on the iron-to-iron oxide cycle and provides for sequestration of a separate CO₂ stream.

Demonstration

• Established a hydrogen-fuelling station in Prince Edward Island, which is fuelling two Ford hydrogen internal combustion engine shuttle buses. The hydrogen is produced from wind power at North Cape and demonstrates the utilization of renewable energy in the transportation sector.
• Four stationary fuelling stations and one mobile fuelling station are operating in British Columbia as part of the Hydrogen Highway^TM. The five Ford Focus fuel-cell cars successfully completed their third year of on-road testing and evaluation in the Vancouver and Victoria areas, accumulating 186 000 kilometres of use.
• A hydrogen-fuelled airport tugger is being operated by Air Canada in a demonstration project underway at Vancouver International Airport.
• Commissioned a self-serve, fast-fill hydrogen-fuelling station using waste hydrogen in North Vancouver. The project serves to increase Canadian capacity for capturing and purifying industrial waste hydrogen. Canada is the world’s largest hydrogen producer per capita, and waste hydrogen has significant potential to become an important Canadian resource.

For more information:
canmetenergy.nrcan.gc.ca/eng/transportation.html

Sustainable Bioenergy

Objective

To assist Canadian industry in the R,D&D of bioenergy technologies, thereby increasing the production and use of bioenergy, which generates environmental and economic benefits.

Description

CanmetENERGY supports the R,D&D of bioenergy technology through cost-shared agreements, promotes bioenergy as a renewable and sustainable energy source, advocates the need for proper policies and programs relating to bioenergy, and raises the public’s and policy makers’ awareness of the benefits of bioenergy.

CanmetENERGY’s biomass energy conversion technology expertise covers the following main processes:

• combustion – converting forestry, agricultural and municipal residues into heat and power under environmentally sound conditions
• gasification – converting forestry, agricultural and municipal residues into syngas
• pyrolysis – converting forestry and agricultural residues into bio-oils and value-added products
• fermentation – converting the starch and cellulose components in biomass into bio-ethanol
• transesterification – converting a variety of new and used vegetable oils, tallow and yellow grease into bio-diesel
• anaerobic digestion – converting manures and food-processing and municipal wastes into methane-rich biogas

Activities focus on improving the reliability and lowering the cost of technologies, disseminating information on technology feasibility and economics to potential users, and helping industry demonstrate its products in domestic and foreign markets.

Initiatives include R,D&D, technical and socio-economic studies, end-use demonstrations and testing, feasibility studies, process analysis, verification, testing and improvement, standards development, emissions reductions, modelling, conference and workshop support, information dissemination, International Energy Agency collaboration and committees, stakeholder education, and standards development.

CanmetENERGY plays a leadership role in the Canadian Biomass Innovation Network, a multi-departmental working group formed to direct federal R&D on bioenergy and bioproducts. Clients include the agricultural and forestry sectors (biomass producers and bioenergy consumers), municipalities and industrial partners. (For more information, see “Canadian Biomass Innovation Network,” in the next section.)

Key 2007-2008 Achievements

• With CanmetENERGY support, Powerbase Energy Systems Inc. recently built
  3175-kW combined heat and power containerized units to be demonstrated on working farms in eastern Ontario. These units are fully automated. They include biogas and anaerobic digester management controls, heat exchangers for farm heat supply, the electronic controls needed to sell electricity to the grid, and safety equipment.
• CanmetENERGY provided R,D&D support and laboratory expertise to Enerkem Inc. for the development of a thermochemical process producing cellulose-based ethanol. The process involves the gasification of biomass to syngas and the subsequent catalytic conversion of syngas to methanol and, finally, to ethanol. The company has taken the technology from lab scale to pilot scale at its Sherbrooke, Quebec, facility. Now it is building a large-scale demonstration unit in nearby Westbury, Quebec.
• CanmetENERGY worked with Vaperma Inc., an advanced gas separation company, to develop the Siftek^TM membrane. The membrane can separate ethanol-water mixtures over a wide range of water concentrations, ultimately producing fuel-grade ethanol. Vaperma is working on a second-generation membrane that could be used for cellulosic ethanol.
• CanmetENERGY’s support of R,D&D activities with Nexterra Energy Corp. contributed to recent successes. The first was the sale of a multi-million-dollar biomass gasification system to Dockside Green Power Limited. Another success was the strategic alliance formed with Johnson Controls, Inc., a global leader in facility management and control. Nexterra’s biomass gasification solutions were offered to Johnson Controls customers in such sectors as higher education, health care, government facilities and industrial operations. Nexterra recently won the prestigious GLOBE Award for Technology Innovation and Application for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship.

For more information:
canmetenergy.nrcan.gc.ca/eng/bioenergy.html

Canadian Biomass Innovation Network

Objective

To develop sustainable and cost-effective technologies in bioenergy, biofuels, bioproducts and industrial bioprocesses for market acceptance while utilizing biomass resources in a sustainable and responsible way.

Description

The Canadian Biomass Innovation Network (CBIN) supports strategic R&D in bioenergy, biofuels, bioproducts and industrial bioprocesses to reduce fossil fuel energy consumption, directly or indirectly reduce GHG and CAC emissions, diversify the energy supply and seed the development of Canada’s bio-based economy.

CBIN is a horizontal program developed and managed by five departments: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, Industry Canada, the National Research Council and NRCan. CBIN coordinates and manages two federal government bio-based R&D initiatives:

• the PERD Bio-Based Energy Systems and Technologies program ($3.3 million in 2007–2008)
• the biotechnology R&D component of the Technology and Innovation Initiative ($5.8 million in 2007–2008)

Key 2007-2008 Achievements

• Developed an environmental assessment framework with environmental criteria validated under Canadian conditions for the placement of cellulosic bioethanol facilities. The data generated were considered critical to developing key elements of the architecture for the Renewable Fuels Strategy and subsequent research strategy. The data were used by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital Initiative, U.S. federal government agencies, four provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario) and 33 U.S. states for assisting in the optimal location of biofuels production and conversion facilities.
• Created a comprehensive inventory of sustainable sources of woody and crop residue biomass that is incorporated in the Biomass Inventory Mapping and Analysis Tool (BIMAT). The inventory identifies, at source, herbaceous and woody biomass feedstock availability, preliminary estimates of costs to recover and the type or characterization of feedstock and then represents the information as a map. BIMAT development has generated substantial interest in Canada, Europe and the United States. Demonstrations of the BIMAT are in the planning stage.
• Evaluated the replacement of natural gas with biomass-derived fuels for kiln-heating and power boiler applications to reduce energy requirements and GHG emissions. The use of biomass-derived fuels in lime kilns would introduce pulp and paper mills to conversion technologies, such as gasification and pyrolysis. This use would facilitate the conversion of biomass into value-added bioproducts, including ethanol, biodiesel and speciality chemicals, and set the stage for conversion of pulp mills into bio-refineries. Preliminary results indicate a potential for replacing more than 50 percent of natural gas with syngas, with minimal effects to regular lime kiln operations.

For more information:
cbin.gc.ca

⁸ RETScreen is a registered trademark of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources.
⁹ HOT2000 is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada.

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