After Quebec, it is Ottawa’s turn to study the possibility of implementing a bioenergy strategy to stimulate a sector that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by upgrading and diverting municipal and agricultural waste and forest landfills.
“In order to achieve Canada’s 2030 target and lay the foundation for carbon neutrality by 2050, we are exploring the possibility of developing a bioenergy strategy,” an official from Canada’s Department of Natural Resources wrote in an email. to To have to.
Bioenergy is produced from organic materials such as forest and agricultural residues or compostable materials from municipalities or businesses. They provide about 6% of Canada’s energy supply, according to government data.
Quebec, British Columbia and the Yukon already have their own strategy. In its Hydrogen and Bioenergy Strategy, Quebec allocated the lion’s share of investments to the bioenergy sector.
Of the $1.17 billion to be injected over five years — between 2021 and 2026 — about $950 million will be used for the production of energy from organic matter.
“Broad consultation”
If the Canadian government moves forward with its own strategy, it will adapt to existing provincial and territorial initiatives: “In its analysis of the feasibility of a bioenergy strategy [Ressources naturelles Canada] intends to proceed in an inclusive and collaborative manner that would build on existing provincial and territorial efforts and align with them rather than replace them. »
No timeline is currently advanced. Once “the feasibility of a strategy” has been explored, the government intends to “engage in broad consultation” with industry and citizen groups to define the details, writes the Ministry of Natural Resources. “Canada needs a strategic approach to maximize its bioenergy potential to reduce emissions while growing the economy. »
The federal government recently announced several initiatives to boost the industry. In the spring of 2021, Ottawa launched the Clean Fuel Fund, with a budget of $1.5 billion. The goal: to increase biofuel production and develop national biomass supply chains.
The government will launch a call for proposals this summer to set up projects aimed at creating a biomass supply chain. The goal: to improve the logistics of collection and distribution of biomass to fuel production facilities.