We get questions

The Centre for Energy’s portal is loaded with factual and statistical information about Canada’s energy system. But we still get questions, like this one.

Q: “I caught part of a CBC news report that says Ontario Power Generation is replacing coal in its thermal plants with biomass. Is this true? How does this cut back on emissions? Will this have any impact on food prices?”

A: Ontario Power Generation is indeed testing biomass, including wood pellets and agricultural by-products such as grain screenings and milling spoils, as a substitute for coal at two of its coal-fired thermal generating stations. OPG has co-fired milling by-products along with coal at its Nanticoke Generating Station on the north shore of Lake Erie, and has tested pelletized wood waste and grain screenings at its Atikokan Generating Station near Thunder Bay. Both projects have generated positive results (no pun intended).

Biomass, such the material OPG is using, is considered to be carbon neutral. That is, the amount of carbon released when consumed is equal to the amount of carbon taken up from the atmosphere by the plant or tree when it is growing. As well, whether the material is burned or left to decompose naturally, the amount of carbon released is the same.

This practice will not impact food prices because OPG does not use food crops in its biomass program.

The news item you are referring to is probably one regarding OPG recently issuing a call to potential suppliers of biomass fuel and transportation services. To this point, OPG has obtained its biomass from the spot market, but as it ramps up its program, it will require greater amounts of biomass fuel to better determine the commercial viability of the project.

Got a question?
Send it to infoservices@centreforenergy.com – we’ll answer it and might even publish it on Flow.