Fueling the future

Global warming, peak oil production, Middle East conflict, and the increased affluence of China and India:  all factors that are driving research into renewable, sustainable biofuels.  Dr. Jack Saddler and the Forest Products Biotechnology group take their place among the world’s leading institutions in the quest to turn forest residues into liquid fuel.  In the next 5 to 10 years, Dr. Saddler expects that new technologies will allow liquid biofuels - like ethanol - to be produced economically, which will signal a seismic change for the forest industry. 

In addition to being former Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Dr. Saddler holds the NSERC Chair in Forest Products Biotechnology.  Under his leadership, our Faculty has received about $2.5 million to establish a Process Development Unit (PDU) to assess the potential of wood-based biofuels and chemicals.   Jack’s research interests range from the technical issues surrounding bioconversion of wood to fuels and chemicals, through to the political and economic ramifications that these technologies will have for our world.  In addition, Jack is Leader of the International Energy Agency’s Bioenergy Task 39 ‘Liquid Biofuels’,  and recently chaired an important international meeting here at the Faculty which hosted more than 130 experts interested in bioenergy development.   

The ongoing Mountain pine beetle outbreak also serves to provide a focus for Jack’s research.  There is an accumulating surplus of standing deadwood in our forests, which increases the danger of catastrophic fires and reduces the merchantable volume of the working forest.  Development of biofuel applications may provide us with a cost-effective product that justifies harvesting and replanting activities, greatly enhancing the regeneration of our forests for future use. 

The size of the biofuel and bioenergy opportunity in Canada is huge, and biorefinery technologies can and will bring about major changes to the sustainable energy future for our nation.  The potential is there for us to fuel our future in a sustainable, renewable way.  What is needed now is continued collaboration to create technical platforms for effective and sustainable use of bioenergy, and a strong political will for putting these platforms to work. 

For more information contact Warren Mabee (warren.mabee@ubc.ca) or Jack Saddler (jack.saddler@ubc.ca).