Lapresse - Bahler & Energir - Build Own Operate (BOO) Bahler Biogas, from Sherbrooke, intends to take advantage of the Quebec government's 2030 energy policy, which promotes the production of bioenergy. Its approach is distinguished by the development of small-scale biomethanation sites (30,000 tonnes), the biogas of which will be sold to Energir. But nothing is certain and everything is to be done, maintains the president of the company, David Bhler, in this buoyant market where waste is transformed into energy and fertilizer.
Projects in major centers like Montreal or Quebec are in the process of being set up. What we are targeting are the smallest markets. Our goal is to divert the organic materials that go to landfill and recover them by turning them into energy. - David Bhler, president and co-founder of Bahler Biogas.
In 2020-2021, the City of Bromont was ready to welcome a Bhler Biogas bioreactor in its Technoparc. But the discontent of the citizen would have been right about the project, deplores the entrepreneur. “There is still a big problem of social acceptability. And projects that have gone wrong sometimes give us bad press, ”he says.
Consolation for the SME: Cowansville, a neighboring town of Bromont, showed interest in the technology of the Quebec company. "We agreed to do this directly at the city's landfill," explains Mr. Bhler. I don't see who could object. We have letters of intent and everything, but it's still difficult, especially in terms of procurement. »
According to him, finding organic matter or quality agricultural residues is one of the most difficult challenges.
In this evolving market, David Bahler nevertheless remains optimistic. It does not seek to compete with the major European players who are eyeing Quebec through megaprojects, as is the case with Nature Energy. For 100 million, this Danish giant plans to build two factories in Farnham (near Cowansville, etc.) to process more than 1 million tonnes of slurry and agricultural waste each year.
https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/portfolio/2022-05-24/energies-renouvelables/sauter-dans-le-train-de-la-biomethanisation.php