Nexterra Pitches Council On Biomass Gasification

Monday, April 14, 2008 08:45 PM

Diagram of biomass gasification plant in Victoria (courtesy Nexterra)

Prince George, B.C. – As the City of Prince George works towards trying to develop a community energy system, Nexterra Energy Corp has an idea.

Jonathan Rhone, CEO and President of the Vancouver based company, pitched City Council on Nexterra’s biomass gasification system.

"It differs from combustion, we don't burn the wood we convert it into synthetic gas" says Rhone. The system would use typical hog fuel.

According to Rhone, the best example of biomass gasification in an urban setting would be Dockside Green. That’s a 1.3 million sq ft complex of mixed residential, office, retail space in the heart of Victoria. That heat system cost 6-8 million dollars and takes one full truckload of fuel every three days.

Rhone says from an energy perspective, this is the first greenhouse gas neutral community in Canada as it Nexterra biomass gasification.

Rhone says the biomass gasification system has benefits:

1. Gasification not combustion

2. Ultra low air emissions

3. State-of-the-art

4. Proven, reliable technology

5. Economically viable

6. Ability handle variable fuel

7. Fully automated & operator friendly

8. Potential to convert to power (future)

Rhone says the particulate emissions match that of natural gas, "7-8 milligrams per standard cubic metre."

Councilors showed their interest in seeing how Nexterra technology could be adapted to the City's Community energy System. Councilor Debora Munoz wanted to know what the Nexterra particulate emissions would be given the same scenario as what was planned for a combustion plant in Prince George. Rhone says he believes the Particulate can be held to under 200 pounds per year, although the condition of the fuel is a major factor.

The City of Prince George has been working on developing a community energy system but the location and emission issues have raised red flags with many in the community.

The City is now looking at new talks with industry about purchasing water heated through industrial biomass plants.

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Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 08:45 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: owl on April 14 2008 10:32 PM

Pretty neat getting to make a sales pitch directly to Council.

In my day salesmen were stopped at the front office and asked to drop their brochures and business cards off with the receptionist.

Posted by: Old Hippy on April 14 2008 11:38 PM

I really hope that Colin can mitigate this biomass gasification before he he becomes known as a light haired detour off the information highway.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 15 2008 7:30 AM

Well there you go, if Victoria or Vancouver does it - then PG has to do it.

Posted by: Old Hippy on April 15 2008 1:28 PM

Monkey see, monkey do?

Posted by: realitysetsin on April 15 2008 7:28 PM

I've seen one of these in Kamloops. That mill at the Sun Peaks turnoff there has one... no smoke at all.

Posted by: metalman on April 16 2008 8:40 AM

Sounds like a carbon dioxide generator (the decay of hog fuel creates co2)
Let's take their idea and make it our own, this city sure knows how to do that.
Some of their buzz words/phrases give me pause for thought, like; 'state of the art' that sounds really good, kinda makes you feel like it must be the best, but at what state is the art right now? is it in it's infancy, where they are still tinkering and trying to make it work? 'Economically viable' well it is tax money, there will be a budget, so cost is not an issue, of course it is viable.
Remember this is a private, for profit company making a pitch to sell their product. Let us make sure council is considering this with an open mind, show us transparency, and do not become a sucker for proprietary systems.
metalman.
AH donknow, I's suspicious 'bout this.
metalman.