Energy Innovation and Commercialization on the Prairies

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By Carol Reynolds

Energy, innovation and commercialization - the buzzwords are everywhere these days in government, industry and academic circles. What’s all the buzz about? In the world of genomics research, it’s all about finding out how things work – or what makes up living organisms – and how can we use this knowledge to provide leaner, greener, more efficient ways to help our world’s energy supply.

Genome Prairie is a not-for profit organization working with the Manitoba and Saskatchewan bioscience communities to discover the potential for alternative methods and sources of energy production and recovery. From enhanced oil recovery and agricultural waste biofuel production, genomics research holds the key to creating ways to conserve energy and provide sustainable options for our country’s future.

Converting biodegradable waste materials into biofuels
A new project, based out of the University of Manitoba, aims to help farmers to be more productive, while helping to improve our energy supply.

Microbiologists in Winnipeg are working to identify which types of bacteria can be used to transform waste products into ethanol, hydrogen and bioplastics. Methods are being studied to break down agricultural waste products, such as straw, flax shives and woodchips, into biofuels.

Using genomics science, researchers are collecting and identifying bacteria which will carry out the breakdown of waste in the most efficient, cleanest manner possible. The potential impact on the energy industry is to provide an alternative source for biofuel production.

Agricultural waste is used instead of simply being disposed of, adding another layer of utility to existing crops, making them more productive and lessening the “food vs. fuel” debate.

Investment in this project by the Province of Manitoba shows its commitment to research and is paving its path to becoming a leader in the production of biofuels and bioplastics. Genome Prairie is working closely with the Province, the University of Manitoba and other national and international organizations to advance this biofuels project to the commercialization stage.

Advancements in crop genomics also have the potential to unlock keys for plant breeders to focus on the production of crops with traits more suitable for the biofuel and food industries, while enhancing food traits. For example, producing a flax variety higher in omega-3 fatty acid content increases the plant’s functional food value. Using genomics research and plant breeding techniques to grow flax with additional foliage could also increase its biofuel producing potential. Having both traits in the same plant has the potential to increase productivity immensely.

Finding bugs to help the oil industry
The oil industry is challenged with getting the most out of the wells it drills - literally. It is not uncommon to have up to 50 per cent residual oil left in drilled wells, simply do to a lack of effective recovery methods.

Phase One of a new genomics research project involving Genome Prairie, Enterprise Saskatchewan, Dycor Technologies Ltd. (Alberta) and Midwest Research Institute (Missouri), is hoping assist with oil recovery and to help get more out of the ground.

The Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) project’s goals include the identification of microorganisms which will react and break down barriers, resulting in more efficient oil flow from wells. This new biotechnology has the potential to reduce costs for industry and to offer an alternative to using chemicals and other labor-intensive methods to retrieve the oil. The success of this project will also lead to more efficient and lower water usage in traditional oil extraction methods, thus positively impacting conservation efforts.

Saskatchewan continues to build its knowledge economy through the support of innovative projects such as MEOR. The Province’s project support underscores its efforts to maintain a reputation as a leading innovation, research and development destination.

The potential technology commercialization opportunities resulting from this project are promising. The project has already attracted interest from the industry players who have dormant wells. The opportunity may exist for these wells to be reactivated and to have residual oil recovered.

These two projects are led by Genome Prairie, a not for profit organization managing large scale genomics projects in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Genome Prairie collaborates with researchers in both provinces on projects related to agriculture, health, energy as well as the societal impacts of genomics. Projects are supported by the Government of Canada through Genome Canada, and Western Economic Diversification, the Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan and numerous academic institutions and industrial partners.
www.genomeprairie.ca