News
Getting on the same page
Definitions
1
Sustainability
(n.)
The ability to meet our needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs; the ability to drive a prosperous economy and maintain harmonious ecology at a certain rate or level without depleting resources, by continuous replenishment of resources.
Renewables
(n.)
Resources which can be replenished continuously, without being depleted or depleting other resources.
Biofuels
(n.)
Biofuels are different forms of liquid combustible fuels which are produced quickly by biological processes from biomass meaning any renewable biological materials. Biofuels differ from fossil fuels, which are produced extremely slowly (millions of years) by geological processes from prehistoric biological matter. Biofuels are renewable. Fossil fuels are not (unless humans can wait a few million years for a new batch).
Fuelling a way forward
Biofuels
2
Ethanol
Ethanol is made from a variety of biomass, from corn and wheat to cellulose from wood pulp and other leftover industrial materials. Ethanol reduces GHG emissions by up to 62% compared to fossil fuels.
Ethanol is approved for use in all cars at a blend of up to 10% (15% for model year 2001 and later)*, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles. Most major urban markets in Canada use ethanol blended fuels.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is made from used cooking oils, unused fats and seeds. Biodiesel can reduce GHG emissions by as much as 122% compared to petroleum diesel.
The majority of light-duty vehicles and all heavy-duty vehicles are approved to run on 5% (B5) biodiesel and the majority of heavy-duty can use up to 20% (B20). Some construction and agriculture can go as high as B100.
Here and now
Choice
3
The shift to clean fuels
Today, the mounting pressure to grow the economy while combating climate change is compelling governments, businesses, and households to look to accessible, affordable, renewable alternatives to energy and fuel. Biofuels are a realistic choice, a win for both economy and environment.
Environmental impact
Biofuels are cleaner than fossil fuels and are quickly renewable while fossil fuels are not. Biofuels reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) by up to 122%, depending on production and distribution methods. Lower GHG means cleaner air, lesser smog, and fewer pollutants from the massively growing transportation sector, which accounts for more than 30% of GHG emissions.
Economic impact
Beside lighter ecological footprint, biofuels can also create a brighter economic future. Our domestic biofuels industry contributes $3.7 billion to the Canadian economy each year. Since 2007, it’s created approximately 14,000 direct and indirect jobs and continues generating more than 1,000 jobs annually.
Expanding biofuel blending requirements and investing in new renewable fuel technologies will bring even more jobs, cleaner air, and stronger energy independence for Canada.
Economic and environmental benefits
Impact
4
$3.7B
Annual gross economic benefits to Canadian economy
$5B
Economic activities generated since 2007
4.2mT
Annual GHG reduction equivalent to 1M cars removed
+30
Years of contribution and advocacy
Today and tomorrow
Policy
5
In 2007, the federal government announced the renewable fuels strategy with mandated requirements for the use of ethanol and biodiesel–guaranteeing a market for renewable fuels.
Federally, our national mandates for renewable content in gasoline and the distillate pool are 5% and 2% respectively. Some provinces have reached even further, increasing the percentage of fuel that must be renewable content.
Because of these mandates, Canada’s renewable fuels industry is currently producing 1.8 billion litres of ethanol and more than 500 million litres of biodiesel annually. That’s impressive, but a lot more can be done. More than any other policy tool, increases in mandated requirements for renewable fuel content will boost domestic capacity for biofuel production and export, stimulate economic growth, dramatically cut down pollutants and emissions without slowing down the growing transportation sector, which in turn creates more jobs and demand for local agriculture.
Canadian businesses thrive on consistency and require policy certainty to encourage long-term investments, amplify jobs, and pave the way for change at home and abroad. Our coalition is here to support and consult the Canadian government stakeholders and policymakers in designing meaningful policies: to deliver the economically rich and environmentally clean benefits of renewable products in our own backyards and to propel Canada’s renewables on the global stage.
Biofuels and beyond
Innovation
6
Finding opportunities where others see waste is our True North.
Our members continue investing significantly in R&D to harness the unlimited power Canada’s vast sustainable resources.