Local College Heats Up with Cattails
Providence University College in Otterburne, Manitoba is proving what IISD researchers have been predicting for years: that biomass pellets consisting of a mixture of wood chips and cattails can be an affordable, reliable and environmentally-friendly source of heat for buildings.
Providence University College Providing Watershed Moments for Manitoba’s Bioeconomy
Winnipeg, April 15, 2016—Providence University College in Otterburne, Manitoba is proving what International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) researchers have been predicting for years: that biomass pellets consisting of a mixture of wood chips and cattails can be an affordable, reliable and environmentally-friendly source of heat for buildings.
“This is very exciting for IISD and all of our partners along our chain from those harvesting cattails on the landscape to production of the pellets and eventually to the heating of the college via their heating system,” said Richard Grosshans, a senior research scientist at IISD.
“We always believed that one way to keep wetlands on the landscape would be to prove their economic values alongside the environmental values that they provide to society. Through our partnership with Providence University College, we have proven that the system can work in the depths of a Manitoba winter with a product supply that can match demand.”
IISD’s innovative approach harvests cattail and other plants from marginal agricultural land, water retention sites, and drainage ditches to remove nutrients and contaminants absorbed by the plants, and then uses plant biomass to produce low carbon energy to replace fossil fuels. With the elimination on the use of coal for space heating in Manitoba, there is an accelerating strong demand for quality processed biomass fuel. Manitoba’s Hutterite communities are leading this charge.
The use of this exciting new source of renewable energy will be showcased at Providence University College at a media event today at 11am, with a demonstration of the university’s biomass-fuelled heating system in operation as well as a discussion of the economics and environmental benefits of this system for Manitoba with project leaders.
“Providence has been burning biomass since 2011 and burned its first cattail pellets in January 2016. They burned exceptionally, and we were extremely pleased with the product. At present our campus is powered by approximately 70 per cent renewable sources,” said Jarrad Peters, creative content specialist at Providence University College. “Providence is committed to being a leader in the green energy sector, as we believe sustainable solutions to environmental questions are integral to the fulfillment of our institutional mission.”
Grosshans says the great thing is these approaches can be applied globally in countries with far greater issues than North America.
“Innovative solutions developed here in Manitoba to collectively deal with our flooding, nutrient, and carbon reduction issues that also create economic growth and jobs will help us and the global community,” he said. “With coal no longer an option, several colonies are producing compressed biomass – including cattails- as fuel for their own heating demands. These are the foundations that support the green economy, bioeconomy-based water, and energy management concepts developed and used in Manitoba.”
-30-
For more information contact Sumeep Bath, media and communications officer, IISD at (204) 958-7740 or sbath@iisd.ca.
About IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 250 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.
You might also be interested in
How can we improve on freshwater health and prevent plastic pollution?
INC-4 is the fourth meeting in a series of international negotiations that aims to develop a global treaty on plastic pollution that could and should have big implications for freshwater quality both in Canada and beyond.
What Is the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, and How Can Countries Move It Forward?
With the introduction of the new framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), COP 28 marked a milestone for adaptation. We unpack key outputs and set out how countries can move forward by strengthening their national monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems.
India's stance at WTO balances fisheries subsidies for artisanal fishers and sectoral growth
India is likely to advocate for securing the interests of its artisanal fishers while facilitating the growth of the fishing sector at the World Trade Organisation's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi later this month. At the MC13, scheduled from February 26 to February 29, world leaders will negotiate on regulating fisheries subsidies that contribute to excessive fishing effort and capacity.
National State of the Environment Report: Uzbekistan
The National State of the Environment Report (NSoER) is a comprehensive document that provides a snapshot of current environmental trends in Uzbekistan's socio-economic development for citizens, experts, and policy-makers in the country of Uzbekistan.