Nipissing University launches Biomass Innovation Centre

Sep. 24, 2009, North Bay, ON – North Bay is about to become a destination for information on biomass
renewable heating and energy as Nipissing University launches its Biomass
Innovation Centre. The centre was established in spring 2009 with financial
support from Ontario’s Community Go Green Fund and Nipissing University.

Developed by the university’s
School of Business and Economics, the Centre aims to provide informational
resources, education, and technology transfer about biomass heating and energy
to building professionals, engineers, and researchers. Biomass heating is
already commonplace in the Netherlands and United Kingdom. Following Europe’s
lead, the Biomass Innovation Centre will help develop the infrastructure for
this new industry using existing resources in forestry, commerce, and trade.

“We have an exciting opportunity
to use a clean, renewable source of fuel in our backyards,” says project
manager Pauline Rochefort, “so why not do all we can to develop an industry of
our own making and help create jobs?” Rochefort estimates that wood pellet
production can help stimulate at least 600 jobs in the region given the right
circumstances.  Rochefort adds that the real advantage of the centre is
its ability to join research with practical application.

At the university, Forest
Bioproducts Research Chair Dr. Jeff Dech is involved in an extensive study to
predict the location, quality, and quantity of biomass for viable heating and
energy applications. Rochefort explains that, “Given the tremendous
utility our region has for wood products, it’s evident we can develop a supply
chain and work with manufacturers to bring all the necessary components of
bioenergy to northern Ontario.”

The Biomass Innovation Centre is
hosting its first conference, Harnessing Biomass: From the Forest to the
Marketplace, on October 22-23, 2009. This two-day event will see over 400
domestic and international delegates participating alongside 60 speakers,
including Ron Pernick, co-author (with Clint Wilder) of The Clean Tech
Revolution.