Living in a carbon-based world, it is important to focus on the research and development of renewable biocarbon for sustainable transportation fuels, large and small combined heat and power technologies, green electricity, trace contaminant adsorbents, increased food production and a myriad of others that all contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. In oil refining, hydrogen and carbon molecules are manipulated to produce a number of everyday products. Refining, gasification and other technologies and processes are already available which can provide a base for similar manipulations of renewable biocarbon materials. Further biocarbon research and development would help grow Canada’s new biocarbon industry, intellectual property could be exported around the world, and the wealth created would amount to billions of dollars as new renewable-carbon industries evolve and the traditional forestry industry is revitalized.

Biomass has been the energy staple of mankind through the ages. Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, have only superseded biomass for a brief period in the grand scheme of civilization. For example, the world did not burn more coal than wood until the beginning of the 20th century. Now biomass is biomass beginning to resume its traditional position in history.

Gerry Kutney is the chief operating officer at Alterna Energy Inc. Reach him at gkutney@all-woodfibre.com or 250-649-2459.

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