Our Products

Today, the cost and environmental limitations of traditional fossil-based fuels are driving unprecedented global demand for new, renewable energy alternatives.

WOOD BASED BIOMASS – THE MOST ABUNDANT, UNDER-UTILIZED AND ECONOMICAL RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE AVAILABLE – HAS EMERGED AS THE FUEL OF CHOICE FOR A VARIETY OF ENERGY PROCESSES.

WOOD PELLET FUEL BASICS

Wood pellets are an efficient, cost-effective alternative source of energy that can be used in a number of power and heat applications. They are a solid renewable fuel consisting of dried, compressed wood fibers from:

Sawmill residuals (sawdust and shavings);
Logging debris, such as forest debris piles; and
Whole logs.

BENEFITS OF USING WOOD PELLET FUEL

CARBON NEUTRAL – Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. This stored carbon dioxide is released when the biomass is burned to generate energy and is absorbed during forest regeneration. No new atmospheric carbon dioxide is produced under a sustainably managed forest system, and for every ton of coal that is replaced by wood pellets, there is a corresponding 1.7-ton reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

HIGH EFFICIENCY – The net energy content of wood pellet fuel is approximately 75% of the energy content of the same amount, by weight, of average quality steam coal. One ton of wood pellets has the same amount of energy as 3.4 barrels of crude oil or 18,000 cubic feet of natural gas.

BASELOAD RENEWABLE FUEL – Unlike wind, solar and other forms of intermittent renewable energy, wood pellets provide a dispatchable, uninterrupted source of power.

LOW-COST RENEWABLE FUEL – Limited capital expenditure is required to replace, or co-fire, coal with wood pellet fuel in existing coal-fired power plants. This makes it one of the lowest cost renewable fuels.

GROWING DEMAND

The global market for wood pellet fuel is focused on three sectors:

Industrial markets (i.e. large power producers);

Large commercial/small industrial markets, such as district heating systems and greenhouses, and;

Consumer home heating markets.

Currently, Europe dominates the wood pellet fuel market. It generates approximately 75% of global demand, with demand spread fairly evenly across each of the three market sectors. Europe’s dominant position is mainly the result of the European Union being the first political power to recognize the importance of diversifying its energy base and reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by increasing its use of sustainable “non-fossil” fuels. As more countries strive to meet their GHG reduction targets, demand for wood pellet fuel is expected to grow significantly, with large electricity and heat generation facilities driving a large proportion of the increase.

THE BC ADVANTAGE

British Columbia’s forests cover 60 million hectares, an area bigger than France.
Operating in BC provides Pacific BioEnergy with several key operating advantages, including:

READY AVAILABILITY OF FIBRE

Large primary sawmill industry generates significant residual fibre
MPB infestation and decadent coastal hemlock provide significant additional fibre that is suitable for wood pellets

SECURITY OF SUPPLY

Fibre can be secured by long-term contract with forestry companies or directly through forest licenses
Approximately 95% of BC’s forests are publicly owned “Crown forests”. Harvesting rights are granted to forest industry participants through a licensing system; once granted, licenses are tradable assets

WELL-ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING ROADS (forestry and primary), RAIL AND PORT FACILITIES

LOW FIBRE COSTS COMPARED TO OTHER GLOBAL REGIONS

ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

BC has established itself as a leader in forest management through stringent forest policies and innovative forest practices; BC’s Forest and Range Practices Act is widely held by policy experts as a world-leading model of forest management
Less than one percent of BC’s forests are harvested each year; a sustainable pace that maintains strong forest resources for future generations
BC has more independently certified forest land than any jurisdiction in the world, other than Canada as a whole
Low-cost, renewable hydroelectricity results in the comparatively lower carbon footprint of operations