Prince George, B.C.- Nexterra Energy Corp. has been selected by UNBC to supply and install a turnkey biomass gasification system to heat UNBC's Prince George campus and anchor its new Northern Bioenergy Innovation Centre.
Nexterra's system is part of a $14.8 million bioenergy program that includes upgraded road and utility infrastructure, a new building and a "living laboratory" for bioenergy research and development. The Nexterra gasification system will convert locally-sourced wood residue into clean-burning "syngas" that will displace up to 85% of the natural gas currently used to heat the campus. The project, which is jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, is expected to begin in June 2009. It will be complete by mid 2010 and construction will support approximately 150 jobs.
By using wood residue to displace natural gas, UNBC will reduce its fossil fuel consumption by 80,000 GJ/year, the equivalent of natural gas required to heat over 700 homes in B.C. The new system will also reduce the university's carbon footprint by approximately 3,500 tonnes annually, the equivalent of taking 1,000 cars off the road.
"We are very pleased to partner with Nexterra to implement a project that will help to establish Prince George as a Canadian bioenergy centre and UNBC as a model for campus green energy," said
Charles Jago, UNBC's interim president. "This project brings us one step closer to achieving our goal of being Canada's Green University, and will significantly help UNBC meet its current and future energy needs, while also reducing our carbon footprint and energy costs."
Nexterra's gasification technology is commercially proven for converting wood residue such as bark, branches, and sawdust into renewable synthetic gas or "syngas" which enables customers to economically self-generate renewable heat and/or power. Syngas is a clean burning combustible gas that can be used like natural gas to generate heat and/or power. Recent testing at Nexterra's plants in Canada and the U.S. has verified that particulate emissions from those facilities are equivalent to natural gas. The combination of ultra low emissions, syngas versatility and low cost makes this technology ideally suited to universities in urban environments.
"We are thrilled to have been chosen for this exciting clean energy showcase," said
Jonathan Rhone, President and CEO of Nexterra. "This project reinforces British Columbia's leadership in clean energy innovation and technology. We look forward to working with UNBC, the Province of British Columbia and the federal government to establish UNBC as a northern hub of bioenergy innovation, economic development and job creation."
The project is supported by the federal and provincial governments through its Knowledge Infrastructure Program. The bioenergy project at UNBC also previously attracted $5 million from the Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement (PSECA) and $3.5 million from the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund.
University of Northern British Columbia Selects Nexterra's Biomass Gasification Technology for $14.8 Million Campus Renewable Energy Project
VANCOUVER, May 28 /PRNewswire/ - Nexterra Energy Corp. (www.nexterra.ca) announced today that it has been selected by the University of Northern British Columbia ("UNBC") to supply and install a turnkey biomass gasification system to heat UNBC's Prince George campus and anchor its new Northern Bioenergy Innovation Centre.
Nexterra's system is part of a $14.8 million bioenergy program that includes upgraded road and utility infrastructure, a new building and a "living laboratory" for bioenergy research and development. The Nexterra gasification system will convert locally-sourced wood residue into clean-burning "syngas" that will displace up to 85% of the natural gas currently used to heat the campus. The project, which is jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, is expected to begin in June 2009. It will be complete by mid 2010 and construction will support approximately 150 jobs.
By using wood residue to displace natural gas, UNBC will reduce its fossil fuel consumption by 80,000 GJ/year, the equivalent of natural gas required to heat over 700 homes in B.C. The new system will also reduce the university's carbon footprint by approximately 3,500 tonnes annually, the equivalent of taking 1,000 cars off the road.
"We are very pleased to partner with Nexterra to implement a project that will help to establish Prince George as a Canadian bioenergy centre and UNBC as a model for campus green energy," said
Charles Jago, UNBC's interim president. "This project brings us one step closer to achieving our goal of being Canada's Green University, and will significantly help UNBC meet its current and future energy needs, while also reducing our carbon footprint and energy costs."
Nexterra's gasification technology is commercially proven for converting wood residue such as bark, branches, and sawdust into renewable synthetic gas or "syngas" which enables customers to economically self-generate renewable heat and/or power. Syngas is a clean burning combustible gas that can be used like natural gas to generate heat and/or power. Recent testing at Nexterra's plants in Canada and the U.S. has verified that particulate emissions from those facilities are equivalent to natural gas. The combination of ultra low emissions, syngas versatility and low cost makes this technology ideally suited to universities in urban environments.
"We are thrilled to have been chosen for this exciting clean energy showcase," said
Jonathan Rhone, President and CEO of Nexterra. "This project reinforces British Columbia's leadership in clean energy innovation and technology. We look forward to working with UNBC, the Province of British Columbia and the federal government to establish UNBC as a northern hub of bioenergy innovation, economic development and job creation."
The project is supported by the federal and provincial governments through its Knowledge Infrastructure Program. The bioenergy project at UNBC also previously attracted $5 million from the Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement (PSECA) and $3.5 million from the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund.
Carbon footprint, folks thats old science but if singing that same old song brings in the grants, so be it. Where do I sigh up for the cash.
Posted by: downnotout on May 28 2009 3:20 PM
How much fuel will be spent to bring the waste wood to the project? How much energy will it take to make the syn-gas? Will the construction and operating costs be covered in a resonable time by the savings in the costs of natural gas? Lots of questions remain unanswered.
Posted by: Palopu on May 28 2009 7:05 PM
Have to agree with you downnotout. How much extra pollution will there be from the trucks hauling this crap up the Hills to UNBC. Once its established and dependent on wood supply,will the price of hog fuel go up.
Studies for these types of programs are always down with the end result to show that it is a viable operation. Seldom do they go into to much detail on the downside, because then the project would not go ahead.
Its almost gauranteed that they did not approach Terasen gas and try to negotiate a long term contract, so that they wouldnt have to build this thing.
Its all about spending taxpayers dollars, and to hell with the cost.
Posted by: gamblor on May 28 2009 7:51 PM
I'm going to go out on a limb and say trucking it in will cause less pollution than burning it in damp heaps in the bush. Nothing is ever good enough for the greenies. They demand bioenergy, you give it to them and they tell you it pollutes to drive it in. They demand wind energy then whine that it kills birds. They demand solar and they whine about the exotic materials. Go live in your treehouse. How much pollution did the truck that brought you the computer your are typing on right now create? Who cares?
Posted by: Resident on May 28 2009 9:04 PM
Spend 14.8 million dollars to save 80,000 GJ's. A gigajoule sells for about 7 bucks today so yearly saving are in round numbers $500,000.00. Not exactly the kind of payback industry would get interested in. As for the emissions being as clean as natural gas that is a highly optimistic statement. Check with the MOE on the emissions at Hefly Creek.
Go south of the border and there are several gas fired turbines being proposed to generate power.
Maybe the system could be sized large enough to supply hot water to heat the city building downtown. Probably only take another 15-20 million dollars. This is something our city council should jump on. This would be a excellent opportunity for Dan and group to start a study and burn through more taxpayer money. Given the state of the roads digging them up would hardly create any more pot holes or frost heaves than we have at present. Maybe we would even get some new pavement.
Posted by: dow7500 on May 28 2009 9:32 PM
Part of the project will be learning how to develop further efficiencies with the process. This is part of a University research project not just some green heating scheme. Palpou, you don't like the sports center, extended runway, cn center and now this project. What a sad, negative whiner you must be.
Posted by: Jaws on May 28 2009 10:00 PM
People here really floor me sometimes. Every week people on here are howling that gov't doesn't do enough to help the forest industry and other business. Yet here is a project that provides much needed construction jobs as well as jobs to run the plant and provide the biomass and all most can do here is shit all over it. I don't know what the hell you people actually want. If I find a magic wand maybe I can make everything perfect for some of you.
Posted by: Palopu on May 29 2009 8:14 PM
Get a grip you people. It wasnt me that said that they would reduce their carbon footprint. It was the University and the people building the project. All I said was that they probably did not factor in the additional pollution from the trucks hauling in the hog fuel, and probably didnt try and negotiate a long term contract for gas. If you dont have some of these numbers then your numbers are haywire.
dow7500. The CN Centre is fine. Its the 3500 empty seats at the Cougers games that bother me. 3500 empty seats can only be described as a failure of the Couger franchise. Dont try to make it otherwise.
The Sports Centre is a great place, however the fact that it is sorely under utilized is obvious. Only a building that is funded by tax dollars could survive with the number of members this facility has. Dont forget that they get $600,000.00 per year from the City and University, otherwise they would have to close down.
The extended runway was supposed to attract wide body cargo jets to Prince George for fueling, and eventually attract air cargo etc;. This was a myth from the beginning. The fact of the matter is the Runway is built and is not being used. The best they could do was to fire Steig Hoig, and blame the recession. The fact of the matter is the Airport Authority for all intents and purposes is broke. This was, and is a failed project. I predict that within two years this Airport will be returned to the Federal Government, or it will be run by the Vancouver Airport Authority.
dow7500 What a wonderful, forward looking, futuristic, positive, person you must be. Especially when you do it all on taxpayers money.
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Posted by: seamutt on May 28 2009 11:34 AM