Bioenergy facility expansion

Project Snapshot

Project Size:
Budget: $20.36 million
Status: In construction
Occupancy: 2023
Project Manager: Infrastructure Development – Project Services

Project Summary

This core infrastructure project involves the addition of 12 MW of boiler capacity to the existing Bioenergy Facility to allow the campus hot water heating system to keep up with projected increased demand over the coming years from academic and student residence buildings.

The expanded use of biomass as an energy source will provide additional heat at a lower cost than natural gas and will help UBC diversify its fuel mix, allowing more effective management of the fuel cost risk as well as to help reduce the University’s carbon tax through lowered GHG emissions.

The scope of work includes civil and structural modifications to the existing facility, removal of redundant equipment, significant mechanical and electrical upgrades, seismic modifications to reflect the altered layout of the building, the addition of a significantly upgraded biofuel material handling system, and the supply and installation of a new boiler.

Learn more

UBC Media Relations: Innovative UBC heat and power facility boosted by federal investment

Kinetic Construction: UBC Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility (BRDF) Expansion

Daily Hive [August 2019]: $20-million expansion of UBC wood chip-fuelled energy plant receives federal funding

The Vancouver Sun [August 2019]: UBC plots $20.4-million expansion of emissions-reducing bioenergy heating plant

Canadian Biomass [August 2019]: Feds earmark $7.6M for UBC biomass expansion project