Economic and energy efficiency assessment of biomass harvesting for a northern off-grid community: A case study at Brochet Manitoba, Canada.

In June 2011 Manitoba Hydro announced an investigation into the installation of a biomass gasification power plant to displace fossil fuel use at the off-grid community of Brochet Manitoba (Electrical Line Magazine, 2011). High and increasingly volatile fuel costs, risk of air and ground-water pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the challenge of delivering diesel fuel are all major concerns associated with diesel energy in off-grid remote communities, including Brochet.

Two key components in determining the feasibility of biomass energy systems are: 1) the cost to harvest and transport the biomass feedstock, and 2) the carbon emissions incurred from harvesting and transport activities. Considering the truly remote location of the proposed biomass facility at Brochet, it is our hypothesis that the impacts of harvesting and transportation on the feasibility of the proposed project will be significant and transportation costs will be the largest cost factor.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shirley Thompson

Student:

Partner:

Manitoba Hydro;University of Manitoba

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Utilities

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: