Have you ever wondered how much energy it takes to produce maple syrup? It’s a lot! Maple syrup production is energy-intensive; boiling down 40 litres of sap to get just one litre of syrup requires an enormous amount of energy. As syrup producers, we’ve seen our energy options evolve over the decades - from the early days of wood-fired production, simply because there was no other option, to the advanced systems we now employ. Today, the majority of maple syrup is produced using oil-fired combustion. This method, though efficient, has a significant environmental footprint and raises questions about its long-term sustainability.

The way we produce maple syrup impacts more than just the syrup itself—it affects our environment, the quality of our air, and the well-being of future generations. As consumers become more conscious of the environmental impact of their choices, we want to offer transparency about the production methods available to us and why we’ve recently made the shift to a more sustainable energy source: biomass combustion.

Understanding the different energy systems used in maple syrup production not only sheds light on the process behind maple syrup production, but also empowers you, as a consumer, to make informed choices that align with your values. Here, we’ll take closer look at how these systems have developed over time and why the choices we make today matter more than ever.

Arch (in maple syrup production): A structure that holds the evaporator pan where maple sap is boiled down into syrup. The arch contains the heat source, such as wood, oil, or electricity, which heats the sap during the evaporation process.

Wood Fired Arches

Wood-fired arches in maple syrup production operate by burning wood within a combustion chamber to generate heat. This heat is then transferred to an evaporator pan where maple sap is boiled down into syrup. This traditional method of wood-fired evaporation is labour-intensive and time-consuming but allows for the production of high-quality maple syrup cherished for its rich, complex taste and connection to centuries-old traditions.

Early wood-fired arches lacked design that maximized heat transfer and retention. The construction materials of these arches, typically metal or brick, were not well-insulated, leading to heat loss. Wood-fired arches were inefficient, and combustion was incomplete, resulting in significant amounts of lost energy as unburned gases, vast quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as particulates, were released into the atmosphere.

Advancements in technology have led to the development of more efficient wood-fired arches, optimizing combustion while minimizing heat loss. Improved insulation and better combustion chamber design enhance heat transfer and retention. Despite these improvements, the continued reliance on 100% wood as a fuel source necessitates the harvesting of large quantities of trees, often from the very sugar bushes they inhabit. This practice not only disrupts the landscape and biodiversity of forests but also poses environmental concerns, impacting animals, waterways, and various flora and fauna dependent on these habitats.

Oil Combustion Arches

The transition from wood-fired arches to oil combustion in maple syrup production marked a significant advancement in efficiency and productivity. Oil combustion offered several advantages over traditional wood-fired methods and has been widely adopted within the industry.

Oil combustion provides a more consistent and controllable source of heat compared to burning wood. With oil-fired evaporators, syrup makers achieve precise temperature control, ensuring uniform heating and reducing the risk of scorching maple syrup or burning pans. Oil burners also significantly reduce the labour associated with wood-fired arches.

However, oil combustion comes at a cost. The combustion of oil releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. In addition, oil combustion releases other pollutants such as nitric oxide (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter into the air. These pollutants have adverse effects on air quality, human health, and ecosystems.

While early oil arches were less efficient than those of today, they still require as much as half a litre of oil for each litre of maple syrup produced. This does not include additional fossil fuel inputs such as transportation.

Electric Arches

An electric arch consists of a series of electric heating elements positioned beneath a large, flat pan or evaporator. These heating elements are powered by electricity, providing consistent and controllable heat to the pan. Electric arches offer several advantages over their wood-fired or oil-fired counterparts. First and foremost, they provide precise temperature control, ensuring optimal conditions for evaporation and syrup production. Additionally, electric arches eliminate the need for burning wood or oil, resulting in cleaner and more environmentally friendly operation. They produce no emissions or smoke, reducing air pollution and minimizing the impact on surrounding ecosystems.

Quebec’s electricity generation system is primarily powered by hydroelectricity, a more environmentally sustainable source of electricity than most. However, electric arches are not as widely used as oil combustion arches in maple syrup production. The decision often boils down to economics (see what we did there?). In certain regions, the cost of heating oil often undercuts that of electricity, rendering oil combustion arches more financially viable, particularly for larger-scale operations. In addition, electric arches are especially risky in areas with unreliable power-grid stability, a scenario often encountered in remote or rural locations where the majority of maple syrup farms operate.

Regarding the syrup itself, it is generally accepted that the quality of maple syrup produced with electric arches lacks complexity and flavour. Maple syrup produced from these arches is often described as ‘techno-syrup;’ technically syrup, but not rich and flavourful.

Biomass Combustion Arches

A cutting-edge approach in maple syrup production involves the use of biomass combustion arches, a highly eco-friendly system that relies exclusively on renewable biofuels such as fallen or sick trees and agriculture residues, turned into pellets. These arches operate by burning these biomass materials within a combustion chamber, generating heat that is then channelled to an evaporator pan where maple sap is boiled down into syrup. Notably sustainable and efficient, these arches are outfitted with emissions control systems to further mitigate environmental impact, representing a cleaner alternative to conventional wood or oil-fired arches.

Biomass combustion is considered carbon-neutral, but this depends on a few factors, like the type of biomass used and how efficiently it’s burned. When biomass is burned for energy, it releases low levels of CO2 into the atmosphere. However, because this biomass comes from materials that recently absorbed CO2 through photosynthesis, the CO2 released is part of a natural cycle. If the biomass is sourced responsibly, the CO2 emitted during combustion is balanced by the CO2 absorbed by new plant growth, creating a closed carbon cycle with no overall increase in CO2 levels.

When it comes to harvesting sick and fallen trees for biomass combustion, it's important to note that our own harvesting method prioritizes the balance between responsible biomass production and forest conservation. Ensuring that only a portion of these materials is harvested, we leave enough to maintain the natural cycle of decay and renewal in the forest floor, greatly minimizing any impact.

When managed responsibly, biomass combustion curbs greenhouse gas emissions and facilitates a shift toward a more sustainable future. This technology could change the entire maple syrup industry into a new phase of environmentally friendly production, and away from a largely oil-driven industry.

Embracing a Greener Future

We take great pride in crafting Cosman & Webb maple syrup in the most environmentally friendly way we can. Our dedication to phasing out fossil fuels, embracing renewable biofuels, and implementing state-of-the-art technology has not only established a new benchmark within the industry, but it is our hope that it also encourages others to join the movement towards a more sustainable future.

To our customers, we implore you to seek out maple syrup produced sustainably, as collective efforts are crucial in achieving our climate objectives. Presently, only a handful of biomass combustion arches are in operation, yet we remain optimistic that with time, more syrup producers will transition their maple syrup production methods, elevating the industry to higher levels of sustainability and fostering a deeper respect for the natural environment.