Ontario Power Generation
Biomass Energy
OPG is currently testing the use of biomass as a new energy source for Ontario. Biomass used in OPG's program consists primarily of wood pellets and agricultural by-products such as grain screenings and milling spoils that can be burned to generate electricity. OPG does not use food crops in its biomass program.
Biomass is considered to be "carbon neutral", meaning the amount of carbon released when burned is equal to the amount removed from the atmosphere when being grown.
For power companies, biomass has the potential to play an important role in reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by supplementing coal. Mixing biomass with coal is already a well established practice in several European countries.
Above: Pelletized grain screenings being delivered to OPG's Thunder Bay Station |
Test burns of surplus grain screenings were conducted at OPG's fossil generating stations in the 1980's. More recently, OPG's Nanticoke Generating Station successfully co-fired milling by-products with coal and OPG's Thunder Bay Generating Station conducted a test burn using pelletized grain screenings. The Atikokan Generating Station has been testing wood pellets with considerable success. |
In April of 2006, the Ontario Government announced a commitment of $4 million to support the Atikokan Bioenergy Research Centre. OPG's Atikokan Generating Station will host some of the work. Extensive testing is planned to provide detailed energy and environmental data as well as biomass fuel supply potential.
Biomass Fact Sheet
Click below for more information on OPG's biomass testing.
SD Report
Our 2006 Sustainable Development Report is now available for download.