Biomass energy in Canada

At one time in Canada, the combustion of biomass, especially wood, was the primary source of energy for heating and cooking in homes and process heat and steam for industries. Today our country’s dependence on biomass has changed, with the use of abundant, low cost fossil fuels.

However, biomass remains an important part of our country’s energy picture, supplying nearly six per cent of our primary energy demand, the second largest source of renewable energy after hydroelectricity.

A major application of biomass is found in the forest products and pulp and paper industries. By burning bark, wood chips, sawdust and “pulp liquor” (a mixture of pulping chemicals and organic material), saw mills and pulp and paper plants create heat for drying kilns and produce steam and electricity to meet their needs or to sell to the grid. In terms of installed electrical capacity, these industries have about 1,500 megawatts, mostly in cogeneration facilities.

Beyond the pulp and paper industry, several independent power producers generate electricity from the burning of wood wastes and other biomass materials. Currently there about 12 of these plants, with an installed capacity of about 130 megawatts.

On a smaller scale, the burning of biomass, particularly firewood, continues to supply space heating in many Canadian homes. According to Natural Resources Canada, about 1.5 million Canadians use wood for home heating. This use is most prevalent in Atlantic Canada.