Prof. Toope, Min. Yap, and Ms. Young (photo by Martin Dee)
On September 13, the University of British Columbia officially opened the Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility (BRDF), a pioneering $34-million clean energy facility.
UBC is Canada’s first university – and one of a few institutions worldwide – to produce both clean heat and electricity from renewable bioenergy. BRDF will generate enough clean electricity to power 1,500 homes and will supply up to 12 percent of UBC’s heat requirements. It will reduce the university’s natural gas consumption by 12 per cent and campus greenhouse gas emissions by 9 per cent (5,000 tonnes), the equivalent of taking 1,000 cars off the road.
UBC researchers, students and partners will use the first-of-its-kind facility to research, develop and evaluate bioenergy and other clean energies, processes and technologies.
At the opening, Prof. Toope unveiled a commemorative plaque with Ms. Wai Young, MP for Vancouver South and the Honourable John Yap, MLA for Richmond-Steveston, Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology and the Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism.
For more details please visit the UBC Public Affairs website.