Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential Through Bioheat for Remote Communities in Northeastern Ontario

ABSTRACT Switching from high‐emitting fossil fuel to lower‐emitting biomass fuels is one approach to help to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most remote communities in Canada are primely positioned to take advantage of fuel switching for space heating as they are closer to sustainable biomass resources than urban areas. Furthermore, bioheat in remote communities can improve both environmental and socio‐economic outcomes by allowing communities to gain energy independence and security when using local renewable resources. This study examines the GHG emissions reduction potential of substituting fossil fuels with woody residues to produce heat in remote communities in northeastern Ontario, Canada. We examined both hydronic and electric heat using forest harvest and sawmill residues as biomass fuel types. We found the largest emission reductions in the electric bioheat scenarios, with the scenario using forest harvest residues that would have otherwise been burned showing the greatest emissions reduction potential (−256.32 gCO 2 eq·MJ heat −1 by 2124). Biomass fuel type rankings for all scenarios, regardless of heating system or fossil fuel substitution, are: forest harvest residues from burn slash piles > forest harvest residues from decay slash piles > sawmill residues. All scenarios were carbon neutral in the first year of bioheat production and remained so for the 100‐year study period. While our study showed the environmental benefit of fuel switching, social, economic, and operational risks of a project such as this should not be overlooked.