Agricultural waste could be new energy source

The International Institute of Sustainable Development's (IISD) water program is focusing on agricultural waste as a source of bio-energy.

Dimple Roy, director of the water program at the IISD, says they're working with Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development to develop a bio-economy atlas to determine the supply of biomass in the province.

"What we're doing is basically collecting crop information, forestry information, we're looking at ditches and cattails, so we're combining all the different sources of potential biomass that could feed into this kind of industry for Manitoba," Roy says.                                

Providence University College is one instance of how the industry is already starting in the province. Rather than using conventional methods to keep its furnace going, the college burns cattail pellets to heat its buildings during the winter.

Cattails are just one example of biomass, as Roy says this type of energy source includes animal/plant stuff which is currently unused and releasing phosphorous back into the environment.

"Anything that's leftover from growing corn, leftover from growing oats," she explains. "Every biomass needs phosphorous to grow and it releases phosphorous if it's left unused. So while some of the agricultural residue is needed for maintaining soil health, a lot of it is just wasted and it releases phosphorous back into the system, which then causes the algal blooms on Lake Winnipeg."

Roy says they're starting by looking at waste in the agriculture industry because it's such a big sector for Manitoba, but as they've received more feedback from stakeholders, she says they're also looking into forestry and animal waste.