Conferences across Canada
Priorities:
- Hold workshops and conferences each year from coast to coast
- Focus events to target real business opportunities, and to achieve
policy improvements
- Facilitate separate one-on-one business exchanges at our events
- Connect our Members within Canada and to international partners
and markets.
- Keep our Members abreast of key issues, legislation, technology,
markets, and successful business models.
Highlights from our recent events include:
This year, CanBio has held successful workshops in Edmonton, Quebec City, and Vancouver
The Bioeconomy - Advantage Canada!
Vancouver BC, November 27-29, 2012
The 2012 CanBio Annual Conference and Trade Show brought together key bio-economy stakeholders from across North America, Europe, and Asia. Major themes inluded the Canadian bioeconomy, biomass trade, and cutting edge biomass refining technologies. Highlights included:
- speakers from Korea and Japan who provided invaluable insight into Asian biomass demand following the Japanese Fukushima nuclear disaster and new renewable energy targets in Korea;
- a forum on torrefied wood, including presentations from technology companies and the world's only commercial producer of torrefied pellets
- key European speakers that presented on European markets for Canadian biomass, and issues of long-distance biomass trade
- special sessions on biomass heat and power for remote communities,
- a post-conference tour of the Fibreco pellet terminal in North Vancouver, and the new Nexterra CHP system at the University of British Columbia
The Status of Torrefied Wood and pyrolysis Oil
Quebec QC, September 5, 2012
The event exceeded all expectations. We had 81 participants from 8 provinces, including major corporations like CanFor, CIBC World Markets, Resolute, Kruger and JD Irving. Our tremendous lineup of speakers, including Andritz (Austria-torrefied wood manufacturer), Vattenfall (Netherlands- key torrefied wood buyer), Airex Energy (Quebec company with unique torrefaction technology), and BTG-BTL (Netherlands- pyrolysis oil), we were able to provide delegates with crucial information on torrefaction and pyrolysis technology, as well as emerging domestic and overseas markets for refined biomass. The event was followed by a lively business-to-business meeting session.
Advancing the Bioeconomy
Edmonton AB, April 25-27, 2012
The Edmonton conference was extremely successful in raising awareness of CanBio and bioenergy in Alberta, and in kick-starting our strategy of building a bio-economy. For instance, while several presentations focused on more straightforward uses of bioenergy, such as for heat and power, many speakers gave intriguing talks for alternative, value-added uses of low-cost biomass, such as the use of biochar in oilsands operations. We also learned about the development of a Canadian Energy Strategy, and that our solar, wind, and geothermal counterparts appear interested in collaborating on a renewable energy strategy.
In 2011, CanBio held successful workshops in Thunder Bay, Quebec City and Toronto.
Bioenergy Driver of Socioeconomic Growth
Toronto, ON, October 12-14, 2011
Canbio's annual National Conference, held recently in Toronto, was an outstanding success with 150 participants from across Canada and overseas. Over 30 presentations were heard on a variety of important topics, a “Dragon's Den” session was held matching investors with businesses, and a special Learning Forum on technology options was also well attended.
The title of the event “Bioenergy – Driver of Socioeconomic Growth” was carefully considered. Several of the presentations showed that the favourable impact of bioenergy goes well beyond its benefits on energy supply, and also has important contributions to employment and regional development. This was highlighted by the release of the preliminary findings of an important survey conducted by Canbio on the economic benefits of bioenergy in Canada. Read more....
The keynote speech was made by Rob Lyng of Ontario Power Generation discussing its April report based on an in depth economic analysis. The report came down very clearly saying that displacing much of Ontario's coal fired generation by bioenergy is a sustainable option based on biomass sourced from within Ontario. To view the study follow the following link.
Taking Bioenergy to the Next Level
Quebec City, QC May 18-20, 2011
After a successful mini conference in Sherbrooke in 2010 that included a 2-day tour of Vermont district heating installations, we returned to Quebec with a major event in Quebec City May 18-20, 2011.
We began with a ½-day district heating course delivered by our Finnish
partner
Wenet, which was sold out! The course was followed by a tour of Cité Verte, an integrated urban centre for the future, heated with local biomass, and each condo controlled by space age monitoring equipment by Genivar. It was our most popular tour ever! In our 1½-day conference at the lovely Hotel Chateau Laurier Quebec, we showcased the latest in offshore pellet markets, district heating systems,
opportunities in pyrolysis oil, and addressed issues on the sustainability of biomass. Eighty-five (85%) of the presentations were delivered in French. We recognize Quebec as a bioenergy leader, and will continue to bring Quebec the latest information on technology.
Highlighted in Bioenergy Success Stories, read more.
Shifting Gears to a Bioeconomy
Thunder Bay April 26-27, 2011
Our first foray into Northern Ontario in several years drew an astounding 130 attendees from across the North. Municipalities, 
First Nations, government and entrepreneurs attended eager to find out
how Ontario’s communities, forest product manufacturers, and policymakers can make the transition to bioenergy happen. Presentations were made on diverse emerging bioenergy sectors in Ontario. Topics included bioenergy's potential in Ontario, biorefining and bioproducts, district heating, pellets manufacturing, and combined heating and power systems.
Thunderbay co generation project highlighted in Bioenergy Success Stories, read more.
For all upcoming workshops, click here.