Besides being the right environmental choice, biomass heating reduces greenhouse gas, supports local industry and is providing heat for a number of government facilities including Wedgewood Manor, says Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar.
"Biomass heat is a local, renewable, carbon neutral resource, and government is leading the way for biomass heat in Prince Edward Island, with installations in 13 government facilities, and seven additional installations coming online in early 2016," said Minister Biggar.
Island biomass installations have displaced 2.4 million liters of fuel oil which resulted in a reduction of 6,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas and cost-savings of over $200,000 since 2012. In 2016, Island biomass installations will result in a reduction of 2.6 million liters of fuel oil and 7,200 tonnes of green house gas, per year.
Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar, Dick Arsenault (left), ACFOR Energy and Mathieu LeBlanc, ACFOR Energy, examine a burner at the biomass heating facility in use at the Wedgewood Manor in Summerside.
Photo credit: Beth Johnston
"Prince Edward Island's total energy mix is made up of approximately 10% biomass energy and the provincial government is supporting the development of biomass energy production in public facilities," added Minister Biggar. "Biomass is a locally available renewable energy resource that will continue to play an important role in our renewable energy mix."
Along with the environmental benefits, biomass installations create economic benefits for the forestry industry. One tonne of biomass chips can produce up to 4 megawatt hours of heat, which displaces approximately 580 liters of fuel oil. When biomass chips are harvested through selective thinning of Island forests, this improves forest growing conditions, improves tree growth, and enhances biodiversity.
Mathieu LeBlanc of ACFOR Energy specializes in sustainable forest management. "With good planning, biomass wood chips are a renewable, inexhaustible resource, as long as the forests are managed sustainably," said Mr. LeBlanc. "Selective thinning of Island forests for use in biomass ensures less crowding of the superior trees, better access to sunlight and water, and all in all, leads to improvements of the health of the forest."
ACFOR Energy is one of four companies who design, construct, finance and operate biomass installations and sell heat to government facilities. This allows for a predictable cost of heat for government facilities while creating jobs and economic activity for local business.
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