Glossary

Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion is the natural biological process involving the microbiological conversion of organic matter into methane in the absence of oxygen.

Anaerobic Digester
An anaerobic digester is an airtight tank with heating coils and in some system a mechanical mixer. As the feedstock is fed into the digester, it is heated to a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher. At this temperature the bacteria produce biogas in a two step process. The first step involves a group of anaerobic bacteria (acid formers) that produce organic acids from the initial organic degradation. The second step involves a group of bacteria (methane formers) that break down the organic acids and produce methane in the process. As the gas is produced it rises above the feedstock to the top of the digester where it is collected into the piping system.

Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a diesel equivalent that is derived from biological sources such as vegetable oil, rendered oils from animal fats, or recycled cooking oil. Biodiesel can either be used directly in its pure state or be blended with petroleum diesel. B20 (a blend of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with moderate cost increase.

Biochar
Pyrolyzed biomass

Biogas
Biogas is produced by the digestion of biomass, manure and/or biosolids under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. Biogas contains 60 to 80 percent methane, 20 to 40 percent carbon dioxide and trace amounts of other components such as hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, and water vapour. The high methane content makes biogas an excellent source of renewable energy to replace natural gas and other fossil fuels.

Camelina
Camelina also known as false flax is a member of the mustard family and is an annual oilseed crop originating in Northern Europe. It is a feedstock for biodiesel production and well adapted for marginal soils, low moisture, and shorter growing seasons like those in Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Camelina yields in Western Canada are approximately 1.5 tonnes/ha which results in a potential biodiesel production of about 630 litres/ha equivalent to 22.6 GJ of energy

Cap and Trade
A cap and trade system is one that forces companies to buy permit for each of carbon dioxide they produce. Government would distribute permits which then would be traded among carbon dioxide producing companies. The cap is the total number of permits available – which influences permit

Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Also referred to as acronym CCS. A fundamental cause for uncertainty for emerging CCS economy is the lack of a clear price for carbon emissions.

Cellulosic Ethanol Production
Where conventional ethanol mostly makes use of the grain by converting the starch sugars, cellulosic ethanol uses a much larger portion of the plant, specifically cellulose a compound contained mostly in the plant cell walls and structure. Cellulose is a complex sugar that is converted into simple sugars and fermented into ethanol. The hemi-cellulose components of plants can also be converted into ethanol but at a lower efficiency than the cellulosic component of plants.

Cogeneration
Cogeneration (also referred to as combined heat and power or acronym CHP) occurs when a power generation station generates and distributes both electricity and heat. It is one of the most common forms of energy recycling. Heat is a often a waste product in convention power generation.

Conventional Ethanol Production
Conventional ethanol technology is grain based using either wet or dry milling processes. The main difference in the two processes is in the initial treatment of the grain. Wet milling is only used for corn since corn has higher moisture content than barley and wheat, which is generally processed through dry milling.

Demand
Demand is measured in kW (kilo-watt) Every month, the Utility will read your meter for demand. This is the peak amount of energy required at any time since the last meter reading. The actual charges per kW vary by Utility; but it will be in the $8-$12/kW range

Demand Side Management
Energy demand management is often referred to as demand side management or acronym DSM. Energy demand management usually implies actions that influence the quantity of energy consumed by users. It can also include actions targeting reduction of peak demand during periods when energy supply systems are constrained. Peak demand management does not necessarily decrease total energy consumption but could be expected to reduce the need for investments in networks and or power plants.

Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles
Also referred to as acronym DDGS is an output of distillation such as distillation that occurs during ethanol production.

Emissions
Any waste products which are released into the air and water.

Ethanol
Ethanol also called ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol is used as a gasoline substitute for road transport vehicles. When combined with petroleum gasoline it increases octane levels and promotes more complete fuel combustion, reducing harmful emissions.

Feed-in-Tariff Program (FIT)
Under the Green Energy Act the Ontario government has included a feed-in-tariff (FIT) system that is considered to be very positive. The new prices for solar photovoltaic projects are particularly attractive i.e. for a project up to 10 kW the contract price is 80.2 cents/kWh.

Frass
Waste bark from chipping operations

Indirect Land Use Changes (ILUC)
This happens when farmers convert forest and grassland to cropland to replace grain displaced on land used to grow energy crops. In contract direct land use changes are the replacement of land used for other purposes by crops grown for biofuels. Taking into account ILUC’s could have a significant impact on the calculation of savings produced by biofuel usage.

Industrial Hemp
Hemp is among the fastest growing biomasses. It is 100% usable and renewable in a number of applications. At present over 25,000 products can be made from hemp including many that now rely on petrochemicals.

Jatropha Oil
Second generation biodiesel feedstock, grown in tropical climates on substandard land. When jatropha seeds are crushed, the resulting oil can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel for use in a standard diesel car, while the residue (press cake) can be processed and used as biomass feedstock to power electricity plants or as fertilizer (it contains nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium).The plant may yield more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybeans, and more than ten times that of corn. A hectare of jatropha has potential to produce 1,892 litres of fuel. However, as it has not yet been domesticated or improved by plant breeders, yields are variable

Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
California has adopted regulations designed to reduce the carbon emissions from transportation by restricting fuels that generate high levels of CO2 their lifetime. This will come into force in 2011.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
U.S. agency responsible for the government’s alternative fuels research.

Output to Input Ratio
This ratio measures the total amount of energy contained within the end product or output (i.e. biofuels) relative to the total amount of energy used in the production and processing of the crop or input. The higher the ratio value the more net fuel energy is gained. Biodiesel ratios are superior to corn ethanol as the production process is less energy intensive.

Photocells
A photocell is a light sensing device used to control lighting systems and dimmers in response to detected light levels. Photocell technology has been used to provide consistent light by responding to the amount of natural light available in office buildings. It has high potential application to the turkey production barn to both save production costs through electricity savings while optimizing lighting affect on production.

Power factor
An electricity term relating to the quality of power on your operation. A poor power factor will increase the charges every month for demand. It is affected by a number of things, including anything that has a transformer (all your HID and fluorescent lights) as well as any motor, from a small refrigerator compressor through to a large irrigation pump.

Pyrolysis
Decomposition or transformation of a compound caused by heating in the absence of oxygen.

Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP)
Standard previous to the Green Energy and Green Economy Act (May, 2009).

Slash
Tree tops and branches resulting from tree harvest

Small Wind (Turbines)
Small wind turbines known as “small wind” are typically 300 kW or less for self-generation

Sweet Sorghum
A resilient grass that can be grown on arid land with relatively little irrigation, fertilizer or insecticide required. Research is showing end product potential is four to eight times the energy input.

Switch Grass
Is native to North America and is known for hardiness and rapid growth on unimproved land. It has been suggested as a “second generation” feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Studies have shown end product is 5 times the energy input and 94% offset of emissions compared to total from planting, harvesting, and combustion of the resulting ethanol. Also an excellent potential source of biomass.

Tallow
Rendered oils from animal fats. Tallow can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Canada is the third largest exporter of tallow after the U.S. and Australia.

Variable Frequency Drives (VFD)
also known as Variable Speed or Adjustable Speed Drives may be used on the vacuum pump and milk pump. The VFD attaches to the existing vacuum pump to constantly monitor the airflow and alter the motor speed accordingly. On the vacuum pump, savings of at least 50% (65 to 80% are typical) can be achieved. This system maintains the vacuum level by adjusting the motor speed.

Yellow Grease
Recycled cooking oil.