News
Canada’s advanced biofuels get report card

Dec. 1, 2010, Ottawa – The release of a
report card on the Canadian renewable fuels industry shows that ethanol and
biodiesel in Canada are delivering tangible economic and environmental results.
It also shows that Canada is “now leading the way in the development and
commercialization of advanced biofuels, which promise even greater benefits for
our economy and our environment.” The report card, released by the Canadian
Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA), is entitled Growing Beyond Oil: Delivering
Our Energy Future. It is the first national
comprehensive review of the state of the homegrown biofuels industry.

The report card shows that in the last five years, $2.3 billion has been
invested in the construction of new biofuel production facilities across the
country, representing almost 2.0 billion litres/year in domestic production
capacity. The construction of biofuels facilities created approximately $3
billion in economic activity. The biofuels sector also expanded the tax base at
the local, provincial, and federal levels by $1.5 billion/year.

Homegrown Canadian biofuels have an equally significant environmental impact.
On a life-cycle analysis, ethanol in Canada reduced GHGs at a rate of 62%
compared to traditional fossil fuels; biodiesel reduced GHGs by a remarkable
99%.

The Canadian industry is poised to commercialize no fewer than four
next-generation technologies in ethanol, as well as several biodiesel
advancements. Beyond that, a diversity of advanced biofuels is taking shape.
For example, Canada’s forestry sector is poised to become a world leader in
diverting biomass from wood waste and byproducts to create renewable fuels.
Similarly, a variety of other technologies show promise in the production of
biofuels derived from such diverse biomass feedstocks as corncobs, switchgrass,
straw, municipal waste, and algae.

To capitalize on the advanced biofuels opportunity, the CRFA is calling on the
federal government to establish a new Interdepartmental Working Group on
Advanced Biofuels to include senior-ranking officials from the key federal
government departments with Cabinet oversight. This group would serve as a
focal point for policy development and coordination within the federal
government, allowing for enhanced accountability and a sharper focus on policy
outcomes.

To read the report, click
here.