Prime Highlights:
SFU’s School of Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) and Corix have launched a four-year collaboration to optimize the performance of the Renewable Energy Centre biomass plant on Burnaby Mountain.
The project will focus on analyzing locally sourced wood waste and improving the plant’s operations to further reduce emissions.
Key Background:
Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) School of Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) has established a groundbreaking four-year research partnership with Corix, the company behind the Renewable Energy Centre biomass plant on Burnaby Mountain. This collaboration seeks to improve plant operations, reduce emissions, and enhance the sustainability of the community through cutting-edge research.
The joint project, valued at $360,000 and funded through the Mitacs Accelerate program along with Corix, will focus on analyzing the quality of locally sourced wood waste and its impact on the plant’s performance. By closely studying these factors, the team aims to optimize the plant’s efficiency and further reduce emissions. Professors Vahid Hosseini and Gordon McTaggart-Cowan from SEE will lead the research, working alongside graduate students and industry professionals to develop innovative solutions for improving biomass plant operations.
Eugene Fiume, SFU’s Dean of Applied Sciences, expressed the significance of this collaboration, stating, “There is no better opportunity to analyze a system at scale and further sustainability research than to do it right here in our backyard.” This project represents an important step in enhancing the hands-on experience for students and accelerating the development of powerful technologies for a sustainable future.
The partnership builds on SFU’s significant progress in reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly since the university’s connection to the Renewable Energy Centre in 2020. SFU has successfully reduced GHG emissions from its central heating system by over 85%, preventing around 24,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The university aims to achieve a 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025.
Over the next four years, the research team will develop models to connect biomass fuel characteristics with plant performance and emission levels. Additionally, a new test rig will be built to allow rapid, low-cost assessments of fuel quality, helping optimize plant operations in real time. Corix’s involvement ensures that the research aligns with industry needs while providing valuable training for student researchers. This initiative further solidifies SFU’s leadership in sustainability and reinforces its commitment to advancing clean energy technologies, positioning it as a trailblazer in Canadian climate action.
