Potential for hydrogen and methane production from biomass residues in Canada

Canada generates approximately 1.45 × 108 t of residual biomass per year, containing an estimated energy value of 2.28 × 109 GJ, which is equivalent to about 22% of Canada’s current annual energy use. Anaerobic digestion of these biomass residues using conventional technologies could generate 1.14 × 1010 m3/year of CH4 with a heating value of 4.56 × 108 GJ. Conversion of these residues using emerging technologies that favor the synthesis of H2 and represses the synthesis of CH4 could generate 1.47 × 1010 m3/year renewable H2, with a heating value of 1.89 × 108 GJ. While CH4-production results in a larger amount of energy recovery, generating H2 from waste biomass is a renewable alternative that could fuel the hydrogen economy. Additional research to further both the technical and commercial development of microbial bio-energy from biomass is warranted.