Current Research Project

The BFN/WPAC research project is a four year project (2019-2023) funded by the federal government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The BBRG is collaborating with the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) and BioFuelNet Canada (BFN) in this project.

Best Practices for Managing Combustible Gas

Wood pellet plants produce syngas – a highly explosive mix of carbon monoxide, methane, hydrogen and other volatiles – during various stages of the pellet manufacturing process. This combustible gas is produced whenever biomass is subjected to high temperatures in a low-oxygen environment.

As a result of several recent syngas explosions, the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC)’s Safety Committee decided to produce an educational video to help operators minimize the risks associated with syngas.

May 5, 2021

June 28, 2021

Improving safety with improved fibre pile management

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

Canada’s pellet industry gained a champion when Shahab Sokhansanj, Ph.D., created the Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group (BBRG) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2003. The world-class research group has partnered with the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) since 2006, and is currently collaborating with WPAC and BioFuelNet Canada (BFN) in a four-year research project (2019-2023) funded by Agriculture and Agri Food Canada’s AgriScience Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

May 5, 2021

May 5, 2021

Fuel from flax: Saskatchewan-based start-up looks to produce biofuel from flax straw

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

When most people hear the words “flax straw,” they don’t think about biofuel. But a new start-up based in Regina, Sask., called Prairie Clean Energy wants to change that.

The company, which was founded in March 2020, has developed a process for turning flax straw, which is often burned or trashed, into biofuel. But where did the idea for this project come from?

The founder and chief relationships officer of Prairie Clean Energy, Trevor Thomas, saw an opportunity in the environmental space, says Mark Cooper, president and CEO of the company.

September 10, 2020

September 10, 2020

Request for information: how to integrate mobile pellet systems with farm operations in Canada

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

The Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group (BBRG) at the University of British Columbia is seeking information from pellet mill manufacturers and farmers on the small-scale pellet units with the capacity of less than one tonne per hour (1000 kg/hr). The wide spread of crop fields and the high capital cost of farm equipment has made the mobilization of farm equipment among crop fields a common practice. BBRG intends to develop a mobile pellet system that can fit into the current business models of custom operators in Canada.

July 10, 2020

July 10, 2020

WPAC Research Director Wins the 2020 Glen Downing Award

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

The Canadian Society for Bioengineering/La Société Canadienne de Génie Agroalimentaire et de Bioingénierie (CSBE-SCGAB) council has awarded Dr.Fahimeh Yazdan Panah, the research and technical development director for the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC), the 2020 Glen Downing Award.

June 8, 2020

June 8, 2020

UBC Researchers to Produce Pellets from Under-utilized Agricultural Biomass

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

With financial support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriScience Program, a team of researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) aims to produce durable and homogeneous pellets with consistent quality from under-utilized and low-quality biomass resources in Canada. As a member of BioFuelNet Canada (BFN), the UBC Biomass & Bioenergy Research Group (BBRG) is leading this project in collaboration with the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) and BFN.

March 11, 2020

March 11, 2020

How to Lower the Chance of Rotary Drum Dryer Fires

Biomass feedstock drying is a key operation for producing durable and storage stable pellets. The operation reduces the average moisture content from about 50 per cent (wet mass basis) to five – seven per cent. The rotary drum dryer is the most common type of dryer used for this task.

Biomass feedstock drying is a key operation for producing durable and storage stable pellets. The operation reduces the average moisture content from about 50 per cent (wet mass basis) to five – seven per cent. The rotary drum dryer is the most common type of dryer used for this task.

Biomass feedstock drying is a key operation for producing durable and storage stable pellets. The operation reduces the average moisture content from about 50 per cent (wet mass basis) to five – seven per cent. The rotary drum dryer is the most common type of dryer used for this task.

August 7, 2019

August 7, 2019

WPAC Makes Progress Promoting Key Priorities

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

As WPAC’s executive director, I prepare a business plan and budget each year for approval by our board of directors and membership during our AGM. The business plan guides our direction for the ensuing year.

July 3, 2019

July 3, 2019

Canada Adds Voice to ISO Solid Biofuels Standards Discussion

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

ISO TC 238 convened its 11th annual meeting in Seoul, South Korea where Canada was represented by two delegates including the Wood Pellet Association of Canada’s (WPAC) research and technical development director, Dr. Fahimeh Yazdan Panah, and Dr. Maurice Douek with FPInnovations. The ongoing efforts by Canada on this technical committee are being sponsored by WPAC, FPInnovations and Standards Council of Canada.

Sep 20, 2018

September 20, 2018

Reaching New Markets and Doing it Safely

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

It’s been a year filled with development and market growth, as speakers emphasized at the 2018 Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) conference, but Canada has only scratched the surface of reaching Asian markets with Canadian wood pellets.

November 22, 2016

November 22, 2016

Biomass co-firing in Alberta 

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

September 30, 2016

September 30, 2016

WPAC – Proper Handling of Wood Pellets

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

When handled properly, wood pellet fuel is safe and benign. Wood pellets are made by drying and compressing pure wood particles. Naturally occurring lignin softens during pelletizing and then hardens during the cooling process to bind wood particles together as pellets. It is hard to imagine how such a pure product could be dangerous.

June 26, 2016

June 26, 2016

WPAC: A Plan for Alberta

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In its Climate Leadership Plan, the Government of Alberta will phase out coal power by 2030, replacing one-third with natural gas and two-thirds with renewables. Alberta also said that it intends to ensure that capital is not unnecessarily stranded.

Jan 6, 2014

January 6, 2014

UBC pellet workshop presentations now online

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

In November 2015, the government of Alberta released its ambitious Climate Leadership Plan. This plan aims to accelerate the transition from coal to renewable electricity sources, put a price on carbon emissions and set emissions limits for oil sands operations.

The presentations given at the Biomass Pelletization and Torrefaction Workshop, hosted by the University of British Columbia’s Biomass & Bioenergy Research Group (BBRG), are now available online.

PODCAST: Biomass Fibre Pile Management with Dr. Shahab Sokhansanj

In this episode of the Dust Safety Science podcast, our very own Dr. Shahab Sokhansanj, who is an agricultural engineer and adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, goes over best practices for biomass fibre pile management.

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