The Canadian government announced plans Aug. 27 to invest $4.7 million in Woodland Biofuels, a Toronto-based company that is using gasification and a series of catalytic reactions to convert biomass into renewable fuels.

An investment of $1.9 million, funded by Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program, will allow Woodland Biofuels to develop a technology to produce ethanol from wood and agricultural waste. A second investment of more than $2.8 million, funded by Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Growth Program, will increase the efficiency of the company’s cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant and support detailed engineering activities, enabling Woodland’s first commercial-scale ethanol plant. The company will integrated these projects into its operations in Sarnia, Ontario.

“By investing in commercializing Woodland’s groundbreaking waste-to-fuel technology, Canada is leading the world in reducing fuel costs and fighting climate change,” said Greg Nuttall, CEO of Woodland Biofuels. “Woodland’s process not only reduces GHG emissions by up to 92 percent, it produces fuel at a lower cost than making gasoline from oil. The funding being provided by the Canadian government is expected to enable Woodland’s first commercial plant, which we anticipate will be built right here in Sarnia. I’d like to thank the Canadian government and the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park for their essential support in making this happen.”

Page: Biomass Magazine