The coal-fired Lambton Generating Station could be producing power entirely from biomass before the 2014 closure date set by the Ontario government, says a leading Canadian scientist in the field.
“This is a chance for Ontario to get out in front of the pack,” said David Layzell, executive director of the University of Calgary’s Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy. “All of the technologies are known.”
Layzell said if the political will existed to push research and development in biomass fuel stocks, including more trials like last month’s testing of wheat byproducts at LGS, the Courtright plant could be converted from coal use before 2014 and its hundreds of jobs saved.
He noted European countries are importing wood pellets from Vancouver to burn in power plants, drastically cutting their greenhouse gas emissions. But such ideas are resisted here is because coal is half the cost biomass fuel stocks and Canadians aren’t accustomed to paying more for their power, he said.
“The question is, how much are we willing to pay for climate change mitigation? We all know we’ll have to pay higher electricity costs to get greener energy ... I think it’s going to be forced on us sooner or later.”
Ontario could easily meet more of its power needs by using biofuels, Layzell said.
The Great Lakes region has has a number of advantages, including inexpensive shipping via freighter, ample farm and forestry lands to grow fuel crops and the pre-existing power plants in place.
“This is a big opportunity,” he said. “Compared to building more nuclear stations or mothballing the current stations, the province needs to look at the larger issue,” he said.
Layzell believes a blend of wheat shorts and coal could be used as a stopgap measure. But because byproduct of the milling process is also used in animal feed it sets up conflict with feed producers. Corn husks, wood pellets or switchgrass would be better options, he said.
“It would be better to take something with a lower nutrient content. Something no self-respecting animal would eat would be ideal.”
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