"There's a clear and solid future for bioenergy," says Michael Weedon, executive director of the BC Bioenergy Network, which will co-host the fifth international Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition in Prince George this Wednesday through Friday.
As Canada's longest-running event devoted to the global bioenergy sector, the 2012 conference offers bioenergy specialists, existing businesses and organizations, and new entrants an extensive program of business-to-business meetings, technical information, and tours, as well as industry education and training with expert speakers.
"You learn something new every day in this industry--the information exchange, success stories, dialogue, best practices, commercial discussions, and discovery are all important," Weedon says.
More than 400 delegates and 57 exhibitors from 16 countries are expected at the 2012 conference. Bioenergy stakeholders from a wide spectrum of private sector businesses, First Nations, governments, research institutions, and communities will all have the opportunity to learn--both from each other and from leaders in the field.
This year's conference will focus specifically on the worldwide outlook for the bioeconomy, examine how companies are adapting to change, and explore promising new developments.
"As the cost of finding and processing oil and natural gas climbs to new heights, sorting out the bioenergy business model has become increasingly urgent," says Don Zurowski, International Bioenergy Society board chair and, along with Weedon, co-chair of the conference. "The world economy, which has relied on cheap and easily available fossil fuel supplies for many decades, is beginning to shift to new fuel sources that make better economic sense."
At a time of changing global economics, increasing energy demands, and a pressing need for clean energy solutions, the 2012 International Bioenergy Conference brings industry stakeholders what they need to thrive: technical insight, success stories, community expertise, and a business focus.
Offering a compelling blend of current and emerging technologies, the conference brings the world to Prince George--a city at the centre of the largest wood fibre basket in North America, and a natural leader in the bioenergy field.
Zurowski points out that change and innovation have always been at the core of the clean energy agenda. The conference reflects this, while emphasizing here-and-now solutions.
Conference speakers will address current technologies to be adopted and adapted to specific situations, and discuss the impact of exciting industry innovations. A mix of technical sessions, discussions of global issues, networking opportunities, and industry tours will maximize attendees' experience.
Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell notes that the conference has matured over the years, growing in step with the bioenergy industry.
"It attracts notable speakers, and brings an international presence to Prince George, a thriving city in an area that's been called 'the Saudi Arabia of Bioenergy.'"
Always a highlight of the conference, the International Partnerships Forum and Business-to-Business meetings connect suppliers and buyers from around the globe--Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America. This business matchmaking event takes the guesswork out of connecting with the market.
For both domestic and international bioenergy businesses, the B2B meetings provide a unique, dedicated environment where companies can find and develop common investment opportunities and partnerships.
The day-long event, held June 13, is sponsored by the Northern Bioenergy Partnership, a local industry-led coalition of businesses, academic institutions, governments, and First Nations organizations, and by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.
The conference's first plenary session on June 14 draws attention to global game changers. Taking attendees around the world in half a day, plenary speakers will bring forward issues from three continents.
Speakers from Canada, the U.S. and Europe will share national and provincial perspectives on the question of sustainability and the race to reduce carbon emissions.
Bell says governments around the world have enacted incentives, programs, regulations, and legislation requiring industry to reduce emissions. And the best way to reduce emissions is to convert from non-renewable to renewable sources of fuel--a demand that bioenergy meets.
As an industry, bioenergy addresses climate change through innovative solutions and existing infrastructure to empower communities, address energy security, create economic opportunities, and meet environmental energy demand.
Energy policy is at a crossroads, says Weedon. Increasing oil prices, pollution, new legislation, and advances in technology are combining to create unprecedented opportunities for development in the bioenergy industry. "The bioenergy industry is coming of age right now," says Weedon.
While bioenergy has the potential to solve a host of problems, serious issues still face the industry: challenges include unknown future resource availability, a lack of reliable biomass data, and sometimes negative public perceptions and attitudes.
Conference speakers will help attendees gain insight into the suite of issues the bioenergy industry must tackle, and will offer solutions to meet and overcome these challenges.
The importance of bioenergy to the province's communities will be one focus of the second day of conference sessions, which features three parallel sessions on topics as diverse as bioenergy technologies, municipal and community energy, and the growing wood pellet sector.
Worldwide, bioenergy represents a sustainable future that promotes local empowerment and rewards ingenuity. Advances in technology have helped to maximize production benefits, create innovative solutions, formulate smart grids, and develop intelligent infrastructure.
The 2012 conference will bring attendees practical ideas and demonstrate leading-edge research, offering both a broad overview and the detailed information attendees need.
Bioenergy innovation is surging, too, as B.C.-based university research becomes recognized worldwide.
"UNBC and UBC are both great research facilities, and each has found its own niche in the market," says Bell. "They work very collaboratively."
The UBC bioenergy facility focuses on the pellet industry and energy generation, while UNBC, which has plans for an expanded, world-class bioenergy plant, focuses on commercializing and piloting new energy systems.
And the provincial forestry industry has generated some of the most innovative, progressive leaders in the world. "If you combine that attitude, the research, plus the natural resource, bioenergy has a big future," says Zurowski.
The kind of research showcased at the 2012 Conference will help to build a successful industry fuelled by profitable businesses: "It is a perfect opportunity to come and see some of the best technologies available in the world," says Bell.
The conference's technical sessions, always hugely popular, will offer insight into deploying current technology and exploring advanced technologies of the future. A special session on torrefaction will give attendees the opportunity to hear from the world's leading proponents of this process.
Prince George, the wood-based bioenergy capital of Canada, and its surrounding region are home to the most forest biomass in North America. The region is the largest pellet producer in the world, and a significant exporter.
As leaders in the bioenergy industry, the area's businesses have an impressive record of industrial achievement and entrepreneurial activity. Local governments and communities are heavily involved in the industry.
Prince George "is a great community that doesn't just talk about the importance of bioenergy, it does something about it," says Bell, adding that "the pellet industry has blossomed into a major economic driver." He points out that B.C.'s bioenergy-related jobs are measured in the "many, many hundreds, if not thousands."
But wood pellets don't tell the whole story about Prince George's involvement in bioenergy.
The city offers an intriguing glimpse into the industry's future, with a significant amount of energy produced from biomass, gasification facilities creating synthetic gas from biomass, and other exploratory initiatives.
Delegates to the conference will get the chance to visit the newly opened Prince George District Energy System, as well as the UNBC bioenergy plant.
The conference runs Wednesday through Friday at the Prince George Civic Centre and the Coast Inn of the North. For more information and to register, go to www.bioenergyconference.org or phone 250-961-6611.
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