UBC Awarded the 2016 International District Energy Association (IDEA) Innovation Award for Bio-Energy Research and Demonstration Facility

Paul Holt, left, represented UBC to recive theIDEA Innovation Award in recognition of the world-leading work at UBC's BDRF

Paul Holt, left, represented UBC to recive theIDEA Innovation Award in recognition of the world-leading work at UBC’s BDRF

June 22, 2016

On June 22 at the IDEA 107th Annual Conference and Trade Show in St Paul, MN, UBC was awarded the 2016 International District Energy Association (IDEA) Innovation Award.

“It’s a wonderful recognition from our peers for the tremendously innovative work that has been done here on our Vancouver campus,” notes Managing Director of Energy and Water David Woodson.

The Bio-Energy Research and Demonstration Facility (BDRF) is the first biomass cogeneration—or combined heat and power, CHP—project of its kind in North America. The facility is the first to clean and condition biomass (urban wood waste) into an engine fuel grade synthesis gas, or syngas, on a commercial scale.

The facility’s heat and power system, fueled by biomass, creates syngas that’s then burned, in raw form, to produce steam. Or, the syngas is conditioned to create ultra clean syngas that’s injected into an internal combustion engine used to generate electricity.

The IDEA Annual Innovation Award provides a platform for IDEA members to share projects, programs and/or best practices that achieve higher energy efficiency, greater reliability and/or enhanced value to the stakeholder community while demonstrating the value proposition of district energy to the marketplace.