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Thunder Bay, Ontario — Sept. 8, 2014 – Confederation College officially opened the Ontario Power Generation BioEnergy Learning and Research Centre (OPG-BLRC) today as part of BioEconomy Week. Partners, supporters and community members were on hand for the opening and had the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the center.
The OPG-BLRC offers opportunities for demonstration, training and applied research related to biomass energy, including fuel quality and emission and combustion efficiency.
Biomass energy systems use clean forest and agricultural sources to produce heat and electricity with less impact on the environment than fossil fuels. Through the center, Confederation College is committed to developing a market for biomass in northwestern Ontario and other farther-reaching markets.
Featuring state-of-the-art Fröling biomass boilers, fuel handling and heating systems, the OPG-BLRC is estimated to also provide 80 percent of the total heat load for the Shuniah/REACH Building at Confederation College this fall/winter.
Adopted and adapted from existing European technology, the OPG-BLRC is the first facility of its kind in Ontario. The team supporting the facility is currently working with regulators in Ontario to modernize guidelines governing the use of biomass.
In addition, research and testing will focus on streamlining biomass energy for community consumption, including communities in remote areas. Communities that participate will also develop transferable skills that could initiate additional projects and local investment, including employment.
The OPG-BLRC has been made possible through funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, Ontario Power Generation, CRIBE (Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy), and Evergreen BioHeat Ltd. Support also came from Biothermic Renewable Energy Systems, CEM Specialities Inc. and WSP Canada Inc. Honeywell led the center's design and construction.
