Biomass energy could be a part of the umbrella planning for renewable energy in the province. It’s an exciting possibility for agriculture producers and First Nations communities which could become the source of biomass materials. 

Saskatchewan-based Prairie Clean Energy (PCE) is a player in the field, and it recently returned from a trade mission to Japan where they met with some of the largest renewable energy developers in the world, including Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Kyuden International, and more. PCE met in person with Yosuke Kiminami, the founder and CEO of Japan’s largest publicly-traded clean energy company, RENOVA Inc. This meeting signalled the latest step in a year-long relationship-building process between PCE and RENOVA. PCE is a Saskatchewan start-up success story that buys flax straw from prairie producers, pelletizes it using its proprietary process, and sells it as fully renewable and sustainable biomass fuel to customers around the world. 

In its release, PCE outlined that it had welcomed representatives from RENOVA to Regina this past January, which led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two companies, and once again hosted a RENOVA delegate during Canada’s Farm Show in June. The two companies spent another three days together during PCE’s recent visit to Tokyo, the first meeting between these companies held in Japan. 

“The values and culture of RENOVA very much align with ours at PCE,” says Mark Cooper, CEO of Prairie Clean Energy. “We have a strong and mutually beneficial relationship focused on building communities and improving the world.” 

Throughout their trade mission to Japan, PCE introduced Saskatchewan’s tremendous potential as a clean energy leader to the Japanese business community. PCE’s mission was strongly supported by the Government of Saskatchewan. 

“We received incredible support from the Saskatchewan government, especially David Anderson, Managing Director of the Japan Office, and his team,” Cooper adds. “They truly connected us with the right companies and people and set us up for success.”