Vancouver, BC - February 15, 2010 - The
University of British Columbia (UBC) and Nexterra Systems Corp., a
leading biomass gasification company, announced today that UBC will
install and demonstrate a unique, on-site biomass-fuelled combined
heat and power (CHP) solution developed by Nexterra and GE Power
& Water's gas engine division.
The CHP system will be located at UBC's Vancouver campus, where
it will provide clean, renewable heat and electricity for the
campus, while offering a platform for bioenergy research.
The new CHP system, the first of its kind in North America,
combines Nexterra gasification and syngas conditioning technologies
with a GE high efficiency Jenbacher gas engine. Woody biomass will
be gasified and converted into clean synthetic gas (or "syngas")
that will be directly fired into a gas engine. The CHP system will
be capable of providing very high net efficiencies - up to 65
percent in cogeneration mode. The system will produce renewable
heat and power while surpassing Metro Vancouver's air quality
standards.
The solution will produce 2 megawatts of clean, cost-effective
electricity that will offset UBC's existing power consumption. This
is the equivalent electricity required to power about 1500 homes.
The system will also generate enough steam to displace up to 12
percent of the natural gas that UBC uses for campus heating,
thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4500 tonnes per
year. This is the equivalent of taking more than 1100 cars off the
road.
"This project demonstrates UBC's leadership in
sustainability and our concept of the campus as a living
laboratory. This groundbreaking partnership is helping UBC achieve
its sustainability goals through the convergence of research,
operations and industry in the bioenergy sphere." UBC President
Prof. Stephen Toope.
"After working very closely with Nexterra, we are very pleased
to be in the commercialization phase of this unique power
solution," says Prady Iyyanki, CEO, gas engines for GE Power &
Water. "Many of GE's customers are looking for a biomass solution
to help them achieve their renewable energy objectives. We believe
this new CHP solution represents a potential breakthrough for
biomass power generation and look forward to working with UBC and
Nexterra to successfully complete the demonstration."
"This project represents a significant milestone for Nexterra
and we are proud to be part of such a high caliber team that
includes UBC, GE and FPInnovations," said Jonathan Rhone, President
and CEO of Nexterra. "There is global demand for a new standard in
biomass CHP systems and we believe that our technology is well
positioned as a game-changer with tremendous replication
potential."
UBC is also collaborating with FPInnovations to house the CHP
System in a building designed and constructed using cross-laminate
timber (CLT). CLT is a new solid wood building material that can be
used as a low carbon, renewable alternative to steel frame
construction. This will be one of the first CLT buildings in North
America and will demonstrate its market potential for the forest
industry.
Funding support is being provided from the
following organizations: Government of Canada's Clean Energy Fund
administered through Natural Resources Canada; Sustainable
Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an arm's-length,
not-for-profit corporation created by the Government of Canada; the
BC Bioenergy Network (BCBN); and FPInnovations.
About The University of British Columbia - The University of
British Columbia is one of Canada's largest and most prestigious
public research and teaching institutions. Located in the Pacific
Rim gateway of Vancouver, one of the world's great cities, and in
the Interior city of Kelowna, UBC is a global centre of research
and learning. UBC is consistently ranked among the world's 40 best
universities, one of only two Canadian universities in this
category.
It is ranked within the top 10 North American universities, and
first among Canadian universities, in terms of the number of U.S.
life sciences patents and the quality of activity generated from
those patents, including spin-off company creation. From its
beginnings as an early adopter in campus sustainability, UBC has
fostered a thriving community of sustainability researchers,
teachers and students, and operational experts. UBC is now turning
itself into a living laboratory and innovation hub in environmental
sustainability by combining its sustainability leadership in
teaching, research, and operations. For more information: www.ubc.ca
About Nexterra Systems Corp. - Nexterra Systems is a leading
supplier of biomass gasification solutions that generate renewable
heat and power for institutional and industrial customers. Nexterra
systems are cleaner, more versatile and more efficient than
conventional combustion equipment.
The company's thermal gasification systems are commercially
proven and have been selected by public and private customers, such
as the US Department of Energy, Johnson Controls, University of
South Carolina, Dockside Green, Kruger Products, the University of
Northern BC and Tolko Industries. Nexterra is now developing a new
standard of small-scale heat and power systems (2-10 MWe) by direct
firing syngas into GE's high efficiency gas engines. Nexterra is a
private company based in Vancouver, Canada. For more information:
www.nexterra.ca