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Woody biomass to become renewable natural gas in Thorold

The Ontario government is investing more than $6 million to expand CHAR Technologies’ facilities in Thorold to produce renewable natural gas and biocarbon.
The new facility will be the first of its kind in the country to exclusively use woody biomass to produce renewable natural gas and biocarbon.
“This new facility will produce clean alternative fuels and increase sustainability in the forest sector through new and emerging uses of renewable forest biomass,” Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry said.
WATCH: Natural Resources Minister to make announcement at 9:30 a.m.
Woody biomass includes unused tree parts, and mill by-products like bark, shavings and sawdust. CHAR uses high temperature decomposition, called pyrolysis, to convert woody materials and organic waste into renewable gases.
Each year, the new facility will produce 10,000 tonnes of biocarbon as a coal fuel alternative for Ontario’s heavy industries.
Andrew White, CEO of CHAR Technologies, says the biocarbon is expected to provide enough gas in Thorold for 5500 Ontario homes.
“Today represents climate change action in action and is a major win for Canada’s growing bioeconomy as we move towards a Net Zero future in collaboration with Ontario’s resilient forestry sector,” White said. “CHAR is proud to demonstrate what can be accomplished when industry and governments work together towards a green energy transition.”
Natural Resources Canada is providing $4.9 million for the project through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program.
Diverting mill by-products from landfill will further avoid and reduce indirect emissions by as much as 30,000 tonnes annually.