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Province provides funding for UNBC bioenergy plant |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Friday, 18 July 2008 |
Doug Carter, chief engineer with UNBC, shows Technology, Trade and Economic Development Minister Ida Chong, Minister of Education Shirley Bond and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld where the new bio-energy plant will tie into the existing boilers at UNBC. (Citizen photo by Brent Braaten )
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The funding is about one third of the plant's $12.9-million price tag.
The UNBC project -- which is set to use Vancouver-based Nexterra Energy Corp.'s gasification technology -- is meant to test the economic, environmental, operational and industrial viability of bioenergy.
The project is planned to be built next door to UNBC's existing power plant to supplement heat at the university by incinerating wood waste. That will allow the university to cut down on the use of natural gas, and as a result, reduce greenhouse gases, as the wood waste feedstock is considered carbon neutral when forests are replanted.
One other project in northern B.C. received funding: Alterna's Energy received $2.69 million for a plant that will convert wood waste into thermal energy and bio-carbon. The funding is also about one third of the $8.2 million price tag.
"Clean energy will play a key role in building a vibrant and prosperous green economy in British Columbia," said Ida Chong, B.C.'s technology, trade and economic development minister. "These investments demonstrate our commitment to develop innovative technology that will result in new sources of abundant, clean energy serving the needs of local communities and residents across the province," said Chong, who made the announcement at UNBC.
The $12.9-million UNBC plant is not being funded by the university, so more funding needs to be found, said UNBC official Ian Hartley.
Funding is being sought from both provincial and federal programs, said Hartley, the acting vice-provost for research and graduate programs.
As well as reducing green house gases, the plant is expected to become a teaching and research laboratory, he said.
The idea is to test the plant's performance, costs and environmental footprint, including the amount of air pollution it emits, considered a key air quality issue in Prince George.
Hartley said they one of the parameters they have already set for the plant is it cannot produce any more fine particulates -- the leading air pollutant in the city -- than a natural gas-fire heating system.
The hope is the plant will become a showcase of the technology for other universities and colleges, as well as in small communities, including First Nations, in northern B.C.
Nexterra has already used its gasification technology at a plywood plant outside of Kamloops, and is planning to use it in an housing project in Victoria.
Nexterra Energy president and CEO Jonathon Rhone said there is potentially a big market at universities and colleges, which have an interest in green energy. "Having the provincial government contribute is just fantastic," he said.
Alterna Energy president Leonard Legault said the company is in discussions with several different potential partners, but he couldn't say who. There are no timelines for building a plant, but they are hoping to be in the ground before the end of the year, said Legault.
Their technology is able to produce heat and electricity, but also solid carbon which can used in a variety of products.
The company already has a demonstration plant in McBride, 300 kilometres east of Prince George, but plans to build this plant in Prince George.
Legault said the technology emits little air pollution.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 18 July 2008 )
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