innovative agriculture in ontario
TRANSCRIPT
Agricultural BiomassOntario’s Potential
Nick Betts
Outreach Coordinator
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Assoc.
One Stone Road West |!Guelph, Ontario
519.826.4219 | [email protected]
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Agricultural Biomass
The Crops
The Products & Markets
The Ontario Projects
The Potential
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Crops
Rhizome Grasses
- high yield
- wood-like qualities
- high cost to establish
- higher quality soil needed
Seeded Grasses
- “marginal” land crop
- fibre uses
- lower yield
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Rhizome Grasses
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Miscanthus
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Harvest Practices
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Harvest Practices
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Seeded Grasses
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Harvest Practices
Photos: Don Nott
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Harvest Practices
Photos: Don Nott
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Switchgrass
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Ontario Tallgrass
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Products
Photos: The Grower, EERE US DOE, University of Guelph, Pellet Mill Guide
Thursday, May 17, 2012
“1.5m2 PELLEMATIC SMART also makes additional use of flue gas heat and increases the efficiency to approx. 106%. Condensing
technology reduces emission levels!to 4 mg/MJ. !“
Household, Institutional, or Community Heat
Thursday, May 17, 2012
DevelopingBio-Composite Markets
Bio-Composite Plastic
Bio-bins
Flower pots
Auto parts
Bio-Composite Fibre Board
Furniture
Construction materials
Wall tile and panels
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Bedding
Photo: farmcentre.com
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Unique Bedding Features- “dust free”
- high absorbency
- high yield/acre ratio
- low decomposition rate
- low nutrient capacity
- no yearly replanting: “green”
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Markets
Thursday, May 17, 2012
EUROPEAN
MARKET
Wood pellet costs
Germany "240 ($312)
Denmark "340 ($442)
FOB (free on board) prices industrial pellets
SE USA harbours: "112 ($146) /tonne
W. Canada harbours: "98 ($128) /tonne
Int’l Shipping Costs (freight & unloading)
2011: $50 (US)
Western University FOB price for farmers ($100 net/acre), plus pelleting ($38), transport ($30), Shipping ($50 - WSED number)
Miscanthus: $98+$38+$30+$50=$216
Switchgrass: $112+$38+$30+$50=$230
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Ontario Markets?
Coal
Natural Gas
Miscanthus Pellets
Wood Pellets
Switchgrass Pellets
Heating O
il
Propane
Diesel
Ethanol/Gasolin
e
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Ontario Markets?
Coal
Natural Gas
Miscanthus Pellets
Wood Pellets
Switchgrass Pellets
Heating O
il
Propane
Diesel
Ethanol/Gasolin
e
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Energy Cost at Consumer’s Gate ($/GJ)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Ontario Markets?
Coal
Natural Gas
Miscanthus Pellets
Wood Pellets
Switchgrass Pellets
Heating O
il
Propane
Diesel
Ethanol/Gasolin
e
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Energy Cost at Consumer’s Gate ($/GJ)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Potential Rural Energy Market
Schools
Municipal Buildings
Homes
Communities not connected to natural gas
Thursday, May 17, 2012
BeddingCurrently market will follow straw...
- “Premium” hay for horse market? (dust-free, organic)
- Foaling/calving bedding?
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Biocomposites
Challenge:
Carrot, Sticks, Tambourines
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Market Development and Sustainability
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Legal Measures
FinancialMeasures
InformationActivities
“sticks”“carrots”
“tambourines”
Market Development and Sustainability
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Example from Upper Austria biomass heating initiative
Thursday, May 17, 2012