Hello, I am Katharina von…

Hello,

I am Katharina von Hugo of Heizomat Canada Inc. We are a supplier of Woodchip and Biomass Boilers and Woodchippers. We have been in operation since 2014 focusing on supplying woodchip boilers to rural farmers and businesses across Canada.

I appreciate the opportunity to comment on this plan and would love to be involved as an industry participant wherever possible.

My thoughts on how government can assist with the adoption of Biomass as a Green heating solution:

1.
Modern Biomass Heating is a solution for all of Ontario.
Biomass is currently being promoted for rural and remote communities with a big focus on remote.

Our market for biomass is for greenhouses, sawmills, farms, woodworking shops, any businesses, large residences and institutions with access to waste wood. They do not need to be rural or remote.

Typically woodchip heat has not been promoted to potential users such as farms and businesses in southern Ontario due to the difficulty in getting quality, uniform fuel however some systems, like Heizomat’s can handle non uniform fuel and we are having great success with these customers showing that woodchip heat and biomass heat can have a big impact by helping this large group move away from fossil fuel heat.

2. Promotion of Biomass to the business and institutional community
Raising the awareness of the benefits of biomass can be elevated through advertising to the business and institutional community on its benefits:
• Cheaper fuel costs
• Clean, sustainable energy with LOW emissions
• Helps build local jobs and sustainable communities
• Utilizes waste wood materials that would otherwise go to landfills or be burnt off
• Long lasting (30+) years equipment which means a great investment and less waste

3. Encouraging municipalities all over Ontario to utilize Biomass Heat as one of their local solutions.
• Wood as a heating fuel still has an image of burning trees and creating smoke. Modern technology such as woodchip boilers is very different from this.
• Landfills, landscapers, woodworking businesses, businesses using pallets, construction. All these businesses produce waste wood. Redirecting and with minimal processing, this wood can be utilized to produce local, clean heat. How can we encourage wood recycling facilities that process waste wood into economical heating fuel.

4. Building a database of Biomass Heating suppliers.
• Currently the same players keep coming up in training and speaking engagements. There is a growing industry and growing number of businesses involved. Let’s raise the awareness for everyone.
• Include Fuel suppliers – woodchip, pellet, alternative biomass, those who do it as a business and those who have waste wood they want to get rid of; Fuel delivery suppliers, Heating equipment suppliers – furnaces, boilers, stoves etc.; Installer and repair experts including hydronics experts who understand biomass;

5. Tax Incentive for investment in Biomass capital investments.
• These are big investments. How can we help initial customers get over the leap of investing in something ‘new’ and less well known.
• If there are any current incentives out there, they are hard to find.
i. Train businesses like ours that are supplying products that help communities reach their Climate goals, to understand existing incentives and how to help their customers through the process of application.