One year ago today, BC Premier Christy Clark visited Prince George to officially open the University’s $15.8 million bioenergy plant. For the Premier, who had been officially sworn in just four days earlier, the opening was a fitting start to her leadership. In its first year, the bioenergy system, provided by BC-based Nexterra Systems, has offset UNBC’s use of fossil fuels for heating by 86% and proven that particulate emissions from bioenergy can be lower than natural gas.

While serving as the primary heat source for UNBC, the University also uses the Bioenergy Plant as a platform for education and research. For example, it is enabling research funded by Canfor Pulp on uses of ash from bioenergy systems. The Plant has also recently demonstrated the use of wood pellets in gasification systems; a first for a Nexterra unit. Normally, the Bioenergy Plant uses sawmill residue (hog fuel) from Lakeland Mills of Prince George.

Most significantly, UNBC’s bioenergy program is serving as the foundation for research, education, and demonstration of energy technologies of particular value to rural and off-grid communities. This is enhanced by UNBC programming in environmental engineering, community planning, and natural resources management.

The biomass gasification system in the Bioenergy Plant was UNBC’s second bioenergy system on campus, joining a wood pellet system that was officially started in June 2009. Pacific Bioenergy of Prince George donates the wood pellets used for the facility, which provides heat to the I.K. Barber Enhanced Forestry Laboratory.

The entire UNBC bioenergy program has already attracted a number of awards from such organizations as the City of Prince George and Clean Energy BC. UNBC also tied with Harvard University in 2010 for having the top campus sustainability projects in North America.