bioenergycd_challengepaper

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CHALLENGE PAPER

Lead Champions for Initiating this Challenge Dialogue:

David Layzell, CEO and Research Director, BIOCAP Canada Foundation Doug James, Director, Alternative & Renewable Energy, EnergyINet

Note to Participants: Please use the accompanying feedback form to provide your

feedback to this Challenge Paper. Your responses are required as soon as possible

and no later than December 9, 2005

November 23, 2005

Initiating a Challenge Dialogue toDevelop a Bioenergy Strategy for Canada


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Challenge Paper Initiating a Challenge Dialogue to Develop a Bioenergy Strategy for Canada Page 1

Table of Contents

THE KEY CHALLENGE BEING ADDRESSED IN THIS CHALLENGE DIALOGUE...................................2

PURPOSE OF THE CHALLENGE PAPER............................................................................................................2

LEAD SPONSORS AND CHAMPIONS OF THIS CHALLENGE DIALOGUE.................................................2

BACKGROUND ISSUES AND EVENTS THAT HAVE LED TO THIS KEY CHALLENGE..........................3

THE PROCESS FOR ORGANIZING AND OPERATING THE BIOENERGY DIALOGUE...........................6

INITIATING THE DIALOGUE................................................................................................................................7

ASSUMPTIONS DRIVING THIS CHALLENGE DIALOGUE............................................................................7

CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS...............................................................................................................10

IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS....................................................................................................................................11

APPENDIX I ENERGYINET ...............................................................................................................................12

APPENDIX II BIOCAP.........................................................................................................................................14

APPENDIX III ORGANIZING TEAM FOR THIS CHALLENGE DIALOGUE...........................................16

APPENDIX IV THE INNOVATION EXPEDITION AND THE CHALLENGE DIALOGUE SYSTEM

(CDS) ..........................................................................................................................................................................17

APPENDIX V GLOSSARY OF TERMS.............................................................................................................18


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Challenge Paper

Developing a Bioenergy Strategy for Canada

The Key Challenge Being Addressed in this Challenge Dialogue

To create a national strategy to develop a profitable, integrated,

environmentally and economically sustainable bioenergy industry to supply a

significant portion of Canadas energy needs within 10 years.

Purpose of the Challenge Paper

The purpose of this Challenge Paper is to prompt a meaningful online conversation around the Key

Challenge among industry leaders, government and university researchers, research coordinators

and funding agencies, government policy makers and environmental non-governmental

organizations. This online Dialogue will set the scene for a face-to-face Workshop scheduled for the

first quarter of 2006.

At various points in the paper you will be asked for your reaction and further input. The attached

Feedback Summary form invites you to e-mail your contribution to the Project Manager, Jamie

Stephen [email protected] by December 9, 2005.

Lead Sponsors and Champions of this Challenge Dialogue

EnergyINet

EnergyINet is an incorporated national network that brings together industry, researchers and

governments to collaborate in developing and implementing innovations that will ensure an abundant

supply of environmentally responsible energy creating economic prosperity and social well-being

for Canadians.

Doug James, the Director of EnergyINets Alternate and Renewable Energy Innovation Program, will

serve as one of the Lead Champions for this Bioenergy Dialogue (see Appendix I for more details on

EnergyINet).


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BIOCAP Canada Foundation

BIOCAP is a national research foundation that is building knowledge partnerships to harness

Canadas research capacity in support of sustainable biosphere solutions to the challenges of

climate change and clean energy.

David Layzell, CEO and Research Director for BIOCAP, will serve as one of the Lead Champions for

this Bioenergy Dialogue (see Appendix II for more details on BIOCAP).

Note: negotiations are underway with other organizations that have expressed an interest in

sponsoring this Dialogue.

The Champions for this Dialogue

In addition to David Layzell and Doug James, influential leaders from a variety of sectors who have a

serious interest in Bioenergy opportunities have agreed to serve as Champions for this Dialogue.

They include representatives from the following sectors: Agriculture/Biotechnology, Energy from

Waste, Forestry, Heavy Industry (Power), Chemical Industry, Biofuels, Oil & Gas, Academe, NGOs

and Government . (See Appendix III for a list of the Organizing Team for the Dialogue, including the

Champions Group.)

Background I ssues and Events that have led to this K ey Challenge

1. Climate change and the supply of clean energy are among the greatest challenges

that the world will face in the 21st century. These challenges are especially critical for

Canada, a nation that will be impacted by climate change more than most others, yet we

have among the worlds highest per-capita greenhouse gas (GHG1)emissions and

energy consumption.

2. Canadas vast forest and agricultural resources provide this nation with a competitive

advantage in the fight against climate change and the ability to produce a renewable

supply of energy, chemicals and materials. Rising energy costs and the promise of

even higher costs in the future have combined with technology improvements to

make biomass a credible, climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.

3. There is an ever increasing amount of urban, agricultural and forestry waste being

produced that needs to be managed in an environmentally responsible and cost

effective way.

1Includes CO2, CH4 and N2O gases that absorb infra-red radiation and have been implicated in forcing climate change


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4. 4. To build on its natural capital and become a world leader in the emerging

world bioeconomy, Canada need to harness the research, development, design and

demonstration capacity of the nation and the world to develop the insights and

technologies that will inform not only investment decisions by industry, but policy

decisions by federal, provincial and municipal governments.

5. Although there is demand for new science and improved technologies, many of the

necessary insights and technologies are already in place for a viable bioeconomy.

Major challenges are associated with socio-economic and policy barriers, and the

need to link technologies and related industries together in threads connecting

biomass feedstocks to ultimate uses as a transportation fuel, industrial heat and power or

commodity chemicals/materials.

6. BIOCAP Canada and the Alternate and Renewable Energy Innovation Program of

EnergyINet share many common interests in advocating the implementation of an

integrated energy strategy in Canada and in engaging diverse influential leaders inexamining the role of bioenergy within an integrated energy economy. The two groups

have signed a MOU committing themselves to collaborative efforts in this area.

7. Preliminary work by BIOCAP in examining the possible contribution of biomass energy to

the energy mix in Canada suggests that past Canadian vision statements

underestimate the potential, particularly when compared to those from other

nations. The assumption among the Champions of this Dialogue is that the potential role

of using biomass to produce energy in Canada is significantly larger than generally

assumed. This highlights a need for a collective effort to test this hypothesis.

8. It is EnergyINets experience that opportunities to rapidly develop the energy capacity of

Canada in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way can be identified by viewing

the energy system as fully integrated, and then identifying the gaps that prevent it from

operating as fully integrated. We believe that bioenergy can and will provide a

significant contribution to the national energy system by becoming integrated into

the existing infrastructure, both by filling some gaps and by adding new elements.

To accomplish this goal, we will need all significant segments of the bioenergy system

plus key elements of the existing energy system to work together to fully realize the

opportunities available from integration of bioenergy into the energy system.

9. This Challenge Dialogue, with BIOCAP and EnergyINet as lead sponsors, is the first

collaborative project emerging from their recent MOU and it is focused on testing the

hypothesis that bioenergy has the potential to be a major future contributor to an

integrated energy economy in Canada.


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Expected Outcomes at the End of the Dialogue

The Lead Champions of this Challenge Dialogue David Layzell of BIOCAP Canada and Doug

James of EnergyINet have offered the following draft expectations for participants to consider:

1. In distributing the Challenge Paper, we wish to initiate an efficient, effective Dialogue which

will engage a broad range of industry, government, academic and NGO sectors in building abaseline of shared understanding regarding what will be needed to move towards bioenergy

and a bio-based economy in Canada.

2. Participants will have clarified the extent to which Bioenergy has the potential to be a major

player in the production of energy and will have developed a collective vision for a Biomass

Energy Strategy that is both aggressive, yet realistic, and which has attracted interest and

enthusiastic support from a wide range of industry, government, academic and NGO

partners.

3. Build a compelling case for making Bioenergy a strategic priority for Canada with highpotential for substantial clean energy production in the short term.

4. An action plan for initiating a collaborative Biomass Energy Innovation Program that will

catalyze and guide the development of this important economic and environmental

opportunity in Canada.

INPUT REQUEST 2.0: USE APPENDIX VI TO PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK ON EXPECTED OUTCOMES

8 What reactions, questions or suggestions do you have to make with regard to the Expected Outcomes?

INPUT REQUEST 1.0: PLEASE USE APPENDIX VI TO PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK TO THE KEYCHALLENGE AND BACKGROUND

8 What questions do you wish to raise about the Key Challenge?

8 What critical information or perspectives on the Background are confusing to you? Are there any other

issues or events that you feel should be added?


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The Process for Organizing and Operating the Bioenergy Dialogue

Here is an overview of Tasks and Timelines Schedule for the Dialogue:

Time Frame: October 1, 2005 to April 2006

Formation of Organizing Team, Selection and Engagement ofChampions Group and Identification of Key Potential Participants

The Organizing Team is composed of members of BIOCAP,EnergyINet, and Innovation Expedition. The Champions are a smallgroup of stakeholders who actively determine the direction of theDialogue, while Participants are much larger in number and provideexpertise and feedback to the Dialogue.

Prior to November14, 2005

Initiating the Online Dialogue with a Challenge Paper

The Challenge Paper includes a request for feedback by December 9,2005

November 25, 2005

Preparation of Progress Report #1

This Progress Report includes synthesis of feedback (no commentsattributed to any specific individuals), the response of the Champions tothe feedback; and additional information, ideas and potential actionoptions.

November 28 toJanuary 11, 2005

Distribution of Progress Report #1

Participants are requested to provide feedback as soon as possible andno later than January 23, 2006.

January 12, 2006

Preparation of Progress Report #2 January 15 toJanuary 30, 2006

Distribution of Progress Report #2

Participants are requested to provide feedback as soon as possible andno later than February 10, 2006.

January 31, 2006

Major Workshop

All Dialogue participants are invited to this face-to-face Dialogue.Whether or not they can attend, all participants will:

o receive the Workshop Workbook

o have a chance to provide input to the workshop

o receive the draft results of the workshop

o have the opportunity to provide feedback to the workshopresults and shape the final strategy and action plan.

early March 2006


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Progress Report #3

This will include the outcomes of the workshop and the draft strategy andaction plan which is distributed to all participants for feedback before theplan is finalized.

April 2006

The Challenge Dialogue Ends and the follow-up action begins April 30, 2006

Initiating the Dialogue

With the distribution of this Challenge Paper, the online conversation is launched. This Challenge

Paper is not meant to serve as any kind of definitive or complete document on our Key

Challenge. Rather it is to serve as a catalyst for initiating the Dialogue.

Think of this Challenge Paper as the opening volley in a conversation with persons whose

wisdom/practical ability you admire and from whom you want to learn and with whom you want to co-

create something. We are not looking for a simple yes or no to these ideas and questions. We are

looking for responses that lead to rich conversation and learning a response like:

That makes me think about..

That raises three questions I think we need to explore.

I think theres a key point missing..

I dont agree with these assumptions because..

That gives me an idea.

I am in alignment with that idea.

Participants are invited to review and reflect on the paper and use the Feedback Form (Appendix VI)

to provide their initial reactions, questions and suggestions.

The Organizing Team will synthesize the input from the feedback forms from participants and utilize

this material as a start for producing Progress Report #1 (comments will not be ascribed to specific

individuals).

Assumptions Driving this Challenge Dialogue

Participants are invited to react to these assumptions challenging those which are unclear or with

which they disagree.

1. The Challenge Dialogue will focus on developing an actionable bioenergy strategy, with the

intention of creating a common direction and vision among participants. While the Dialogue


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is a starting point, further activities supporting innovation and progress in bioenergy in

Canada are expected post-dialogue.

2. The Dialogue will provide a forum for key decision makers to develop a collaborative strategy

for a Biomass Energy Innovation Program and to exchange ideas and motives for driving the

strategy. The assumption is that any Biomass Energy Innovation Program that emerges fromthe Dialogue will be committed to implementing a mission-oriented strategy for the Biomass

Energy sector that involves all elements of the innovation supply chain, including Research,

Development, Design and Demonstration; the development of supportive policy options and

funding initiatives; and the required commercialization efforts to eventually Deploy the

products in the marketplace (R+D+D+D+D).

3. The strategy will look for significant initial results within 10 years and will deal with an

extended timeframe of at least 30 years.

4. While acknowledging that fossil fuels will continue to play a central role in Canadas energysupply for years to come, development and commercialization of Canadas alternate energy

sources is also seen as a significant priority. Biomass is seen as the most flexible alternate

energy source because it can be converted to not only to power, but also to transportation

fuels, chemicals, heat and other bioproducts.

5. Biomass energy has been the predominant source of energy for human society for tens of

thousands of years. However, for bioenergy to return as a credible energy alternative in the

21st century, the production and use of biomass must be developed in a sustainable, efficient

manner, building carbon stocks rather than depleting them and managing the related

agricultural, forestry and industrial systems in a way that minimizes greenhouse gasemissions. Other environmental factors must also be taken into consideration, such as

biodiversity, chemicals in the environment, water pollution, and soil degradation.

6. The three primary drivers of bioenergy are climate change, energy security, and the

enhanced productivity and competitiveness of Canadian industries and the rural economy.

7. While many bioproducts can be produced from biomass, only those produced in substantial

quantities with little or no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will have a noticeable GHG

impact. This is why bioenergy offers more potential for GHG reductions than the production

of industrial chemicals, materials or other bioproducts). If climate change is a determiningfactor, those markets that utilize large quantities of biomass (>10,000 tonnes/yr) should be

targeted as priorities.

8. Bioenergy provides more jobs per GJ than any other energy source most of them located

in rural areas where employment prospects are often limited.


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9. Most estimates to date of the potential role of bioenergy in the energy sector consistently

underestimate its potential. Bioenergy has the potential to provide up to 25% or more of

Canadas energy supply, significantly more than the current 6%.

10. There is an opportunity for bioenergy production to make a major contribution to the

environmentally responsible management of agricultural, urban and forestry waste.

11. An integrated bioeconomy requires that research, development and commercialization

efforts are focused not only on the harvesting and processing of biomass, but on the efficient

and sustainable production of biomass through enhanced management strategies and new

technologies in agriculture, forestry and related industries. These issues must be considered

for todays world and for the world of the future with an altered atmosphere and climate and

with an enhanced global population.

12. On a per capita basis, Canada has some of the largest forest and agricultural land resources

in the world. Despite its natural resource advantage, Canada lacks appropriate bioenergytargets. If we projected Canadas bioenergy potential from forestry and agricultural resources

using methods similar to those used by the US and UK, scaled to account for differences in

land availability and productivity in Canada, our biomass production could increase to 2.4 EJ

or more, and meet about one quarter of the nations energy requirements.

13. Bioenergy can be used within our existing energy infrastructure cofiring in coal plants,

ethanol/bioethanol with gasoline, biodiesel/biosyndiesel with diesel, biobased commodity

chemicals, upgraded biogas with natural gas which is a huge advantage of bioenergy over

other alternative energies such as hydrogen that need new or altered infrastructure.

14. Canada is an extremely resource-rich country, but just because we are exporting fossil fuels

does not mean we cannot also use and export bioenergy. Policy can greatly encourage

biomass production and use this is evident in Europe, especially Germany (biodiesel) and

the Scandinavian countries (lignocellulose)

15. Canadas bioenergy strategy needs to be substantially different from that of the United

States, Europe, and other OECD countries. The United States has higher productivity on its

agricultural land and has more of it and therefore base their strategy on agriculture. While

agriculture and bioenergy crops will also play an important role in Canadas bioeconomy,

forestry will play a much larger role in the emerging Canadian bioeconomy than that of theUnited States.

16. The barriers associated with bioenergy in Canada are less associated with technological

limitations and the need for more research and innovation on conversion technologies

(though there are areas where this would be beneficial) than they are with the requirement

for cross-sectoral integration and the need for enabling policy instruments and breakthroughs


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in the management and new technologies for forestry and agricultural production, and

bioenergy crops to provide the necessary feedstocks.

17. Partnerships are essential to bioenergy success companies and groups that have not

previously worked together, such as forestry companies and power producers/fuel producers

need to collaborate; one has the feedstock, one has the plants and conversion technologies.Education and capacity building are also critical factors.

18. Bioenergy could be a prosperous business sector that grows on its own merits within 10

years. Successful bioenergy activities already exist (eg. power generation in forestry).

However, it takes time to develop viable businesses and during that time, government

support via monetary and policy processes will be necessary to establish the sector.

19. Multidisciplinary, multisectoral networks can be highly effective mechanisms for engaging a

broad group of individuals/organizations in collaborative efforts to support innovative

interventions. This Challenge Dialogue process will examine existing network structureswhich support bioenergy innovations, make recommendations for either adding support to

these networks, and/or propose the creation of a new network/innovation group focused on

bioenergy.

Summary:

While the challenges associated with using biomass for energy can be significant, the potential

benefits are far greater. Not all of our growing energy needs can be met by biomass, but

because of its flexibility (and in particular, its ability to be turned into transportation fuels), it can

form a vital component of a renewable energy future. This is especially true in Canada, a nation

with more biomass resources per capita than any other nation on earth.

Critical Questions to Address in Developing a Bioenergy Strategy

Participants are invited to react to these questions providing information and content as

appropriate, identifying those that the participant feels are very important, adding new ones,

INPUT REQUEST 3.0: USE APPENDIX VI TO PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK ON ASSUMPTIONS BYNOTING:

8 Assumptions which require more clarification for you to understand.

8 Assumptions with which you strongly disagree.

8 Additional assumptions that you would like to add.


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modifying existing questions to be more complete or focused, or just using them to prompt further

thought to expand the Dialogue.

1. What contribution could biomass make to Canadas energy mix (especially liquid fuels, heat

and power and industrial feedstocks) in ten years? In 25 years?

Power Generation (especially from forest residues, waste streams)

Liquid Fuels (biodiesel, ethanol, methane, methanol, etc.)

Steel and Cement making (and other major heat uses)

Chemical feedstocks

2. Where could this biomass come from and what would be the impact on Canadas society,

economy, and greenhouse gas emissions?

3. How do we ensure bioenergy is conducted in a sustainable manner? How do we ensure it is

part of an ecosystem management program that is comprehensive and renewable?

4. What would be the impact on the health and vitality of ecosystems?

5. What do we need to do to get there from here?

Immediate Next Steps

1. Participants are requested to use Appendix VI to note their reactions to some or all of the

questions in this Challenge Paper. Please send your feedback to Jamie Stephen via email

[email protected] December 9, 2005.2. The Organizing Team will synthesize the input from participants and use it as a base for

producing Progress Report #1, which will be distributed by January 12, 2006.

Many thanks for your anticipated contribution!


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EnergyINets

objective is to unlock

the next generation of

ideas and technology

that will provide uswith an abundant

supply of

environmentally

responsible energy

that creates economic

prosperity and

provides

governments with the

revenues they need to

fund important socialpriorities.

Appendix I EnergyINet

The Energy Innovation Network (EnergyINet Inc.) was created with one simple goal in mind: to bring

together the people, knowledge, capital and resources that will lead to a sustainable energy future.

We seek to facilitate, not replace, the research and innovation that is required to put the pieces of

Canadas long-term energy research and development puzzle together in a strategic, collaborative

and integrated fashion. The end result is the development of real world technology solutions for

Canadas energy and environmental challenges.

By adopting a new approach and providing a vehicle that brings ideas and people together,

EnergyINet can make a tangible contribution to, and welcomes the opportunity to participate in the

development of a coherent energy production and environmental technology plan for Canada now

and in the future.

EnergyINet began in 2003 when over 100 industry leaders, research experts and government

representatives came together. Today, we operate as a virtual network that brings together more

than 200 energy, environmental and technical experts and strategists that recognize the need to:

Pursue an integrated energy production strategy that promotes innovation and the

development of new technologies, not just research and

development;

Create a model for the identification of critical gaps in

energy innovation, and the advancement of energy

sources of strategic importance to Canada;

Get the greatest value from Canadas rich hydrocarbon

and renewable energy resources while significantly

improving protection of our environment and quality of

life; and

Have a vehicle for ongoing collaboration among industry,

researchers and federal and provincial governments.

EnergyINet recognizes that no single source of energy will be

sufficient to meet the soaring demand for energy. We also

recognize that without new breakthroughs in technology, changes

in how Canadians use energy and ways to reduce our

consumption, we will not enjoy the level of economic prosperity and

environmental quality of life that we take for granted.

Initially, EnergyINet focuses its work on six programs that are related to the:

1. Development and enhancement of alternate and renewable energy sources;


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2. Enhancement of the value of bitumen and heavy oil, while reducing the amount of energy

required to produce these resources;

3. Demonstration and use of new generation clean coal technologies;

4. Reduction of greenhouse gas and other emissions;

5. Maximizing the recovery of conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources; and,

6. Development of technologies that will more effectively treat, recycle and reduce water

consumption.

To help take on these energy production and environmental challenges, EnergyINet performs

four critical functions. First, it maintains an overarching vision and integrated strategy. As an

influencer, facilitator and collaborator, it creates links to build a roadmap for research and its

commercialization. Second, it serves as a global technology information clearinghouse. It

collects, shares and leverages global intelligence to advance our current knowledge in support

of Canadas energy goals and strategy. Third, in all its activities, EnergyINet develops and

identifies the state-of-the art technologies needed to minimize our impact on the environment.And fourth, it invests directly in research, development and technology commercialization to

advance our integrated energy production strategy. In summary, EnergyINet focuses on

maximizing environmental, financial and social returns.

EnergyINet Inc. (www.energyinet.com) is a Canadian not-for-profit network that brings

industry, researchers and governments together to help develop new environmentally

responsible hydrocarbon and renewable energy technologies that will produce an

abundant supply of clean energy for Canada.

.


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BIOCAPs objective is to

build knowledge

partnerships that improve

the life, health and

international economic

competitiveness of

Canadians through the

use of human and

biological resources to

respond to climate

change.

Appendix II BIOCAP

The BIOCAP Canada Foundation (www.biocap.ca) is a national, not-for-profit research foundationworking to find solutions to climate change by using our forest, farmland, and waste resources.

Our Mission:

To advocate research that explores the use of biological systems to reduce and sequestergreenhouse gases and complement fossil fuel energy sources to respond to our changingatmosphere and climate.

To build strategic research partnerships across the natural and social sciences and industryand government.

To communicate, from an independent perspective, the university research policy insightsand technology advances that address climate change to decision makers and the widerpublic.

BIOCAP seeks biosphere-based solutions to climate change and the economy by identifying key

research gaps in four areas: Forestry and Natural Ecosystems, Agriculture, Bioenergy and thesocioeconomic or Human Dimension aspects of climate changemitigation. BIOCAP then co-ordinates, funds and communicatesresearch in these areas.

Specific strategies that BIOCAP explores in each of these areasinclude:

Forestry and Natural Ecosystems

1. Promoting forest growth through improved silviculture andfast-growing trees;

2. Preserving existing forest biomass through improved fireprevention and pest control;

3. Ensuring forests and trees are suited to a changing climate.4. Managing aquatic systems to minimize greenhouse gas

release

Agriculture

1. Preserving and enhancing carbon sequestration in soil through improved farming techniques;2. Increasing biomass yield through crop improvement, better land use and soil management.3. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through improved animal production and manure

management practices.

Bioenergy (including bioproducts)

1. Developing renewable energy alternatives such as biopower, biofuels and hydrogen gasfrom biomass;

2. Producing steel and other industrial products using biomass to reduce reliance on coal;3. Improving the processing efficiency and economics of biomass and bioproducts;4. Increasing production of non-food plant products such as commodity chemicals and

bioplastics to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.


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Human Dimensions

1. Exploring the costs, benefits and risks associated with new technologies and managementpractices for GHG mitigation;

2. Assessing various policy options for GHG emission reductions, enhanced carbon sinks anddevelopment of a bio-based economy.

By bringing together universities, industry, governments and NGOs, BIOCAP is building a unique,multidisciplinary network of research networks. The Foundation is uniquely positioned to deliverresearch insights and inform policy makers, industry and the public on strategies and technologiesfor biosphere-based mitigation of climate change issues.


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Appendix IV The Innovation Expedition and The Challenge

Dialogue System (CDS)

The Innovation Expedition is a virtual, global, network organization, engaged in linking and

supporting influential innovators (and potential innovators) to build high performing organizations and

to help create sustainable prosperity in their communities.

The CDS is the flagship program of the Innovation Expedition. It is a flexible but comprehensive

organizational performance improvement system with a proven capacity to help diverse stakeholders

collaborate and innovate to accomplish complex tasks.


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Appendix V Glossary of Terms

Bioeconomy:

An economy where the basic building blocks for industry and the raw materials for energy are

derived from renewable biomass. Forests and farmlands are now used to provide food, feed and

fibre. The large-scale use of these natural resources to provide energy, chemicals and materials

traditionally provided by fossil fuels is referred to as the bioeconomy. Bioenergy will be the

foundation of the emerging bioeconomy.

Biofuels:

Liquid fuels, typically for transport such as ethanol and biodiesel

Biopower:

Biomass used for electrical power, heat or steam for industrial processes.

Bioproducts:

Chemicals or materials made from biomass resources.

Note: This Dialogue will be examining issues related to biofuels and biopower, but will not be

focused on the production of specialty chemicals or other materials made from biomass resources,

except as these play a role in the economies of generating bioenergy.

Biomass:

All manner of organic materials quite literally it is living matter. In terms of bioenergy, biomass is

referred to that which can be easily collected and converted into useable forms of energy and

chemicals. Biomass feedstocks include lignocellulose, lipids, starch, sugars, and protein. The most

common form of biomass is lignocellulose biomass, composed of lignin, cellulose, and

hemicellulose. It is the major component of grasses, wood, and agricultural residues. Municipal

waste contains substantial quantities of biomass, including paper, food waste and sewage sludge.

Other waste streams, such as those from rendering plants, also present significant biomass

opportunities.

Biomass is an alternative to traditional fossil fuel energies for several reasons. Burning biomass will

release carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas, but because the carbon contained in the

biomass was originally taken up from the atmosphere by plants, there is no net release of carbon;

biomass is thus carbon neutral. Using modern technology, burning or otherwise processing

biomass also tends to reduce emissions of other harmful air pollutants. It can be physically stored


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and used on demand, the required technologies already exist and are proven, and production and

processing create significant economic opportunities for rural communities

Biomass suffers from being a dispersed feedstock as compared to fossil fuels. Densification of

biomass is required to transport the material long distances due to economic constraints and energy

balances.

Bioenergy: Biomass as a Source of Energy

The concept of biomass as a renewable source of energy is not new. For tens of thousands of years,

humans have obtained energy from biomass ever since the first fire was invented. In fact, up until

about 1920, most of the demand for energy and industrial raw material was met through biomass.

Today, technological advances have provided us with much more efficient means to trap energy

from the sun as biomass and convert it into energy. For example, whereas traditional open-pit

combustion of biomass for cooking offers an energy efficiency of about 5-10 percent, techniques

such as gasification for power generation bring the efficiency up to almost 40 percent, whilecombined heat and power extraction can capture 80 percent of the total energy.

A common misconception about biomass-derived energy is that it competes with traditional demand

for food, feed and fibre. However, most estimates of available biomass consider only unused or

surplus materials from normal forest and agricultural activities. While interest is also growing in the

concept of dedicated energy crops crops such as perennial grasses or short-rotation trees that are

grown expressly for energy production of such crops is primarily targeted at marginal and/or

unused agricultural lands.

Unlike wind, solar, waves or geothermal energy where nature automatically regenerates the energy

resource, bioenergy requires human intervention during both the creation of a sustainable biomass

energy resource and in the sustainable harvesting and conversion of the resulting biomass into the

desired energy form. Hence, the bioenergy sector must consider both the production and use of the

biomass. Bioenergy is also scaleable and while it presents many opportunities for small scale,

distributed generation, opportunities also exist for use by large industrial users such as power and

heavy industry (e.g. steel and cement producers).

Like fossil fuels, these biomass feedstocks can be converted into heat, electrical power, liquid or

gaseous fuels (the energy products) or a wide range of commodity or specialty chemicals and

materials (defined here as bio-products). There has been a suggestion for the establishment ofbiorefineries similar to petrochemical refineries which extract the higher-value chemical fractions

before the remainder is processed for heat, power, liquid or gaseous fuel.

When it comes to transportation fuels, existing biofuels production is focused on lipid-based

biodiesel and grain-based ethanol. These are very important to establishing a biofuels market and in

fact command over 5% of market share in some countries, but the greatest opportunity on a volume


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basis lies in so-called 2nd generation biofuels lignocellulosic-based bioethanol and Fischer-

Tropsch biodiesel (aka biosyndiesel).

International Bioenergy Targets

Other nations, including the United States and UK, have set much more ambitious bioenergy targetsthan Canada in spite of a much smaller biomass per person potential. For example, the United

States has set an ambitious national target of five percent of the nations power, 25 percent

transportation fuels and 25 percent of its chemicals from biomass by 2030. To meet this US goal, a

billion dry tons of biomass will be needed, representing a 2-3-fold increase in biomass production.

The United Kingdom, with < 3% of Canadas land base, is also proposing an ambitious target of 12

percent of the nations energy demand by 2050 (i.e. 1.14 EJ). Similar increases in biomass

production in Canada could provide up to 37 percent of our energy demands in comparison.

US and UK bioenergy targets rely heavily on the production of energy crops. About 24 M ha of less

productive Class C land are, in theory, potentially available; however, actual adoption of energy crop

production will depend heavily on economics. A mid-range estimate from a recent analysis suggests

between 1.3 and 44 M ha of farmland in Canada could become available, depending on the price of

wood energy and carbon credits.

bioenergycd_challengepaper

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