Enhancing Sawmill Residue Utilization Through Mobile Biochar Production

This project will demonstrate on-site biochar production from sawmill residues at Patterson Sawmill (Hay River, NWT) using Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s mobile kiln. The mobile system avoids high transport and capital costs associated with stationary facilities and can process diverse residue types directly on-site, offering a practical solution for sustainable management of waste biomass at northern sawmills.
Patterson Sawmill in Hay River, Northwest Territories, produces substantial volumes of sawmill residues that have limited local disposal or value-added options. Transporting these materials is costly, and open-burning remains a common practice, resulting in lost revenue potential and avoidable emissions. Reclaimit Ltd., a northern reclamation and resource-management consulting firm, is working with the mill to identify practical ways to convert these residues into higher-value products while improving environmental outcomes.
This project will demonstrate that mobile biochar kilns are a cost-effective, flexible solution for increasing the sustainability of remote sawmill operations and diversifying their income. Unlike stationary biochar systems – which require high capital investment and consistent feedstock supply – mobile kilns can be deployed directly at the location of the material and can process diverse residue types. However, to support adoption of the technology, operational data, performance benchmarks, and hands-on experience are needed to ensure effective and efficient implementation for best results.

Faculty Supervisor:

Volker Schmid

Student:

Partner:

Reclaimit Ltd.

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Program: