The program was unveiled last week at the 2013 CanBio Annual Conference and Trade Show.
"By connecting feedstock, technology and equipment suppliers with end-users in a large-scale, collaborative research effort, we can address interdependent biofuel production and utilization challenges," said Andy Reynolds, General Manager of the Energy, Mining and Environment portfolio at the National Research Council of Canada.
"This will accelerate deployment in markets where bioenergy is cost-competitive, such as remote communities and industry reliant on expensive diesel fuel, and cities facing high municipal solid waste diversion costs," Reynolds added.
The NRC bioenergy program aims to channel expertise into projects to optimize biofuel production and upgrading, and resolve biofuel-power plant compatibility issues, lowering the capital and operating costs for bioenergy systems and components.
These activities will be complemented by technical support for codes and standards and techno-economic expertise to help clients from the project design and feasibility stage, to development, integration, testing and demonstration in the field, the organization said.
Co-investment of industry and other stakeholders along the value chain - feedstock suppliers, technology providers, power plant original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), system integrators, utilities and other end-users - will ensure the program delivers integrated solutions to end-users within relevant deployment timelines.
This, the NRC said, will bring estimated economic benefits of over $800 million in targeted stationary markets over the next decade, expanding export opportunities for Canadian companies while keeping energy costs affordable for consumers.
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