Nexterra Partners with University of British Columbia on Biomass System

Nexterra Systems Corp., a leader in supplying biomass gasification systems, has entered into an agreement with the UBC (University of British Columbia). The multi-million dollar deal is towards installing as well as supplying a biomass CHP (combined heat and power) system for the Vancouver campus of UBC.

In North America, this installation is the first of its kind and results from a collaboration of three years between the Jenbacher gas engine division of GE and Nexterra Systems. This new CHP system would be converting urban wood wastes into combustible, clean burning synthetic gas which is also called as syngas utilizing the proprietary syngas conditioning and gasification technologies of Nexterra Systems.

Syngas will be fired directly into an internal combustion engine of GE for producing electricity to the extent of 2 MW. The electricity thus generated will be distributed evenly across the campus towards meeting a portion of the electricity demands of UBC. Furthermore, the university’s greenhouse gas emissions would get reduced by 4,000 tonnes annually while the low pressure steam production of 9,000 pounds/hour will offset around 15% of the usage of natural gas. This biomass system is slated to have 65% conversion efficiency.