A new five‐year partnership agreement on forest biomass development was unveiled in La Sarre, Québec, during the third edition of a symposium on biomass in the western Abitibi region.
The Centre technologique des résidus industriels (CTRI) and FPInnovations, Canada’s forest sector research organization, have joined forces to carry out research and develop forest biomass in Abitibi‐Témiscamingue and northern Québec.
The two organizations have already worked together successfully on various initiatives over the past year. According to CTRI Executive Director Ahcène Bourihane, “I have to say that the presence of an FPInnovations industrial advisor in our region facilitates our work with regional businesses.” For example, special collaboration between the Syndicat des producteurs de bois d’Abitibi‐Témiscamingue (SPBAT), the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec (MRNF), CTRI and FPInnovations has led to the development of an electronic platform dubbed “FPJoule.” This user‐friendly electronic tool, accessible free‐of‐charge over the Web1, facilitates the conversion of conventional sales units of biomass (cubic metres, tonnes) into energy units (megawatt‐hours and gigajoules). Users can also carry out a quick calculation of how much they can save by converting traditional heating systems (oil, gas, electricity) to forest biomass systems. In the words of Gérald Beaulieu, Director of FPInnovations’ Value‐Added Department, “This partnership agreement between two regional and national organizations is highly enriching for both parties, and I hope that the initiative will contribute to forest industry growth at the regional, provincial and national levels.” SPBAT Director Stéphane Paul had the following to say: “FPJoule will stimulate regional forestry development by allowing users to obtain a fair price for forest biomass on an energy basis.”
