Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The forest products sector is globally challenged and needs to develop a new "modus operandi". Bioenergy is an increasingly important product for the sector, driven largely by significant policy support for outputs including bio-based electricity as well as liquid biofuels such as ethanol. The forest-based biorefinery is a facility or series of facilities that can produce a range of bio-based products including material, chemical, fuel, and energy. This study describes an assessment of potential strategies that the forestry sector might pursue to implement biorefineries and to increase its economic, social and environmental sustainability. An analysis of energy balance and corresponding GHG emissions associated with different biorefining pathways is carried out at scales from sub-national (British Columbia) to national (Canada) to global. A range of options including the potential of sawmills being integrated with bioenergy options (such as on-site gasification or co-production of pellets), to the integration of novel bioproducts (including chemicals, materials, and energy) with conventional products such as pulp and composite materials. The optimal biorefinery combines both niche and commodity products, and the economic returns of each are examine. A diversification of products via the biorefinery approach will increase the potential for growth in the forest sector.