BC announces funding for cleantech projects, including pulp mills’ biomass boiler upgrades

The B.C. government yesterday announced 25 new projects that will be supported by CleanBC Industry Fund’s third round of investment, including several biomass projects at pulp mills.

As part of program, the Harmac Pacific pulp mill in Nanaimo, B.C., was awarded two CleanBC Industry Fund projects. The pulp mill has received $12 million to upgrade its biomass boiler system, and $617,000 to upgrade its pulp dryer and building heating and ventilation system to recover waste heat and reduce natural gas consumption.

“By working through the CleanBC Industry Fund, we will be making significant energy efficiency improvements to Harmac Pacific’s operations by investing in cleaner technology that will substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Levi Sampson, president of Harmac Pacific, in a statement. “This is fantastic news for our employees and will help reduce energy costs and make our mill even more efficient and attractive for buyers looking for high-quality, low-carbon pulp products.”

Meanwhile, Catalyst Port Alberni has been awarded $323,100 and Skookumchuk has received $843,500 to upgrade their hog wood waste equipment that feeds their boilers. Port Mellon’s pulp mill has also received $549,000 to upgrade its biomass boiler and another $384,000 to upgrade equipment that captures biomethanol from waste water.

Mercer Celgar received the largest amount of funding among the pulp mills at $5 million to increase biomass fuel storage at its Castlegar pulp mill.

The government of B.C. also announced funding for additional cleantech projects, including $1.47 million for the City of Vancouver to expand its landfill gas capture program at the municipal landfill at Burns Bog in Delta, B.C., $764,000 to ConocoPhillips Canada to capture methane that had been vented and flared at 55 gas wells in northeast B.C., and $1 million to NorthRiver Midstream for a waste heat recovery system at its Highway plant.