The Bioeconomy and its Benefits to the Community

Paul van der Werf, Chair

Who is the Mayor’s Sustainable Energy Council?

What is the Council’s Mandate?

• Promote, encourage and support sustainable energy projects for London’s economic and environmental benefit.

• 1.1 billion in energy expenditures annually• 87% of this leaves London• Increase the amount on money spent on local

sustainable energy initiatives by $150 million by decreasing the amount exiting London

What is the Bioeconomy?

• Sustainable production and conversion of biomass into a range of food, health, fibre and industrial products and energy*

* The European Bioeconomy in 2030

Canadian Bioeconomy*

• Dominated by energy production• Stuttering with glimmers• Contracted between 2003 and 2009• Some growth globally• Canada lacks vision and a plan “to use

these natural assets to Canada’s advantage.”

*2012 David Sparling, Erin Cheney and John Cranfield “Not enough green in Canada’s bioproduct industry”

London’s Bioeconomy

Urban Biomass

• Each resident of Ontario generates 250-400kg or organic waste each year

• From household, commercial, industrial and institutional sources

• In City of London about 150,000 tonnes/year of biomass

• 12.5MW/electricity of 9,500 homes

Harvest Power

• Anaerobic digestion facility• 70,000 tonnes/year of IC&I(e.g. fats, oils,

grease, food waste) waste at 11% solids• 5.6 MW combined heat and power• 2.8 MW electrical power• 5,200 tonnes/year granular fertilizer

Ethanol and Biodiesel Usage

• Londoners consume 29 million litres of ethanol annually*

• Valued at about $36 million annually (retail)• Ethanol is produced in our region• City uses 800,000 litres/year of B5 blend

biodiesel (which contains 40,000 litres/year of pure biodiesel)

* City of London 2012 Community Energy and Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Challenges and Opportunities

Intellectual and Entrepreneurial Capacity

How do we grow the region’s bioeconomy?

• Urban:Rural interface• Urbanites net consumers of bioproducts• Ruralites net producers of bioproducts• How do we facilitate cooperation and integration?• “A market of sophisticated buyers holds far more

power than mandated or subsidized markets, and promises greater returns for investors and governments alike”*

*2012 David Sparling, Erin Cheney and John Cranfield “Not enough green in Canada’s bioproduct industry”