Husky gift fuels ethanol research
Biofuels will benefit the economy and the environment
Jason Gulay
New funding in biofuels research has the University of Manitoba poised to become a national leader in clean fuel research.
The gift comes from Husky Energy Inc., a Canadian-based integrated energy company operating out of Calgary, and begins with a $1 million endowment fund.
Husky will provide an additional $1.6 million to enhance research currently being conducted. In total, the corporation will donate $5 million to ethanol research in this province over the next five years.
Supporters of the fund believe it will allow Manitoba to strengthen both its economy and the environment, and eventually reach compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. Dennis Floate, Senior Communications Advisor for Husky, is enthusiastic about the potential ramifications of this investment in the provincial research community.
“In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the provincial governments are coming out with mandates to encourage the use of ethanol-blended fuels in all gasolines,” said Floate. “The federal government has made ethanol a priority under keeping its agreement with the Kyoto Protocol.”
In coming years, a heightened focus on the environment will make ethanol increasingly important to the Prairie economy. This growing demand for ethanol can be supplied by a number of regions and source crops.
“In Brazil, they make ethanol from sugar, while down in the states a lot of corn is used,” explained Floate.
But he contends that the endowment fund at the University of Manitoba will focus on wheat yields. “Here in western Canada it makes sense to use grain because we have such a large amount of grain acreage, and primarily, wheat is the best source for ethanol. I believe the federal government, by the year 2010, wants to see 35 per cent of gasoline sold in Canada blended with a minimum of 10 per cent of ethanol.”
Rachael Scarth, associate dean (research) in the faculty of agricultural and food sciences, emphasized the advanced nature of the research that can now be done at the University of Manitoba as a result of the Husky endowment fund.
Scarth explained that there will be two programs supported by the fund. The first will develop a high-yield winter wheat. Currently, a fungal disease severely limits wheat production in western Canada; this research will seek a way to develop winter wheat that is resistant to fungus. The second program aims to improve the fermentation process, and to ensure that Manitoba remains a leader in ethanol production.
Scarth contends that “Saskatchewan and Ontario are following suit. . . for the inclusion of ethanol as a biofuel.”
“In this province it is going to be very important because there is a legislative process that would legislate the inclusion of it in building capacity for ethanol production in Manitoba then becomes the key importance for the province so its self sustaining for ethanol,” said Scarth.
