Biomass: Érablière Escuminac Optimizes Its Performance

Érablière Escuminac Optimizes Its Energy Performance with Biomass In the Baie-des-Chaleurs region of Gaspésie, Érablière Escuminac has carved out a unique place in Quebec's maple syrup industry. The farm produces certified organic maple syrup using family expertise passed down through generations. Built on three generations of maple syrup mastery and focused on the next, Escuminac embodies a unique expertise: a maple syrup operation that perfectly balances tradition and innovation, fueled by ambition and rooted in its core values. Today, the company produces organic maple syrup from its 110,000 taps and develops distinctive niche products of unparalleled quality that stand out both locally and internationally. It is recognized as a pioneer for its sustainable vision and climate commitment, being one of the first maple syrup producers in Quebec to obtain carbon-neutral certification. The Malenfant family proves that with effort, dedication, and consistency, it is possible to set ambitious goals and achieve them.

This drive to do better, both for the environment and for quality, guides them in every decision. With a forward-thinking vision, Escuminac acquired a fully automated 330 kW Hargassner ECO-HK biomass boiler in 2025, featuring an integrated rotary blade mechanism and synchronized electronic management. This system ensures a constant, secure supply of wood chips, perfectly adapted to the company’s energy demand. The installation serves as the central heating system for all the buildings, meeting a variety of energy needs, including preheating the maple sap before evaporation, preheating syrup before bottling, and providing hot water for cleaning equipment and facilities.

To support them in this ambitious project, Escuminac chose Pelletier Bioénergie Inc. acting as an energy partner, the company goes well beyond simply distributing Hargassner equipment in Quebec. It assists clients throughout their projects, from calculating energy needs to designing installation plans, optimizing equipment integration within the company, and offering personalized follow-up for the coming years. In the past, for the Malenfant family, heating with logs meant constant work of cordwood cutting and manual feeding. Today, with forest residues processed on-site by Pelletier Bioénergie, the sugar shack can maintain a consistent heat at a cost of less than 1 cent per kilowatt-hour, while saving countless hours of labour. This change has transformed their daily operations, especially during the short sugaring season. Furthermore, Pelletier Bioénergie secures the biomass supply through a structured logistics chain, providing access to a renewable energy source of unmatched quality for all its supported projects. Present in more than eleven regions of Quebec, Pelletier Bioénergie is the ideal partner for developing high-performance, fully automated energy systems designed for demanding applications. The team works with ambitious entrepreneurs who don't tolerate improvisation, reducing unforeseen issues and allowing them to focus on their true goal: excellence.

From left to right: William Pelletier, co-owner of Pelletier Bioénergie Inc., David Malenfant, forest manager of Érablière Escuminac and Cindy-Mélissa St-Laurent, co-owner of Pelletier Bioénergie Inc.