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Contact:
Lee Gavel, SFU chief facilities officer/university architect, 778.782.4743, gavel@sfu.ca
Dixon Tam, SFU PAMR, 778.782.8742, dixont@sfu.ca

A new neighbourhood energy utility on Burnaby Mountain will supply enough heat for the entire Simon Fraser University campus and future homes in the acclaimed UniverCity residential development.

SFU is partnering with SFU Community Trust, Corix Utilities, and BC Hydro on the community-based sustainable district energy system. The project involves a high-efficiency heating plant using biomass – recycled wood waste from construction sites – as the primary fuel source.

“The provision of thermal energy to the entire Burnaby Mountain community provides a unique model for district energy projects in B.C.,” said SFU president Andrew Petter.

“As Canada's most community-engaged research university, Simon Fraser is committed to implementing as well as researching sustainable energy solutions. This project is an innovative and efficient system that reflects SFU's determination to be a community leader in sustainable practices."

SFU Burnaby’s aging natural gas boilers, which are at the end of their useful life, were responsible for 85 per cent of the university’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2007. Under B.C.’s Bill 44, which imposes penalties for carbon emissions by public bodies, these GHG emissions cost the school approximately $1 million each year.

The new central heating plant, in conjunction with an option for green electricity generation (with BC Hydro as a buyer), will reduce SFU’s heating GHG emissions by 80 per cent, saving the school the cost of carbon offsets.

Also, the combined heat and power project will have a total capacity of 36 megawatts, enough to supply more than 90 per cent of the total annual energy needs for SFU and UniverCity combined.

This district energy system will serve future UniverCity residential buildings, eliminating electric baseboards typically used for heating and the need for natural gas to heat domestic hot water.

More about the district energy system:

• Estimated project cost $32.4 million (central heating plant), $39.1 million (combined heat and power option)
• B.C.’s Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement providing $4.7 million capital investment
• Expected completion date: winter 2012
• Corix Energy Systems will own the utility and be responsible for operating and maintenance costs
• SFU will purchase energy from Corix at a rate set by the B.C. Utility Commission – this is similar to current arrangements SFU has with B.C. Hydro and FortisBC
• Innovative model for district energy that is unique in B.C. and can be readily transferable to other communities
• Supports City of Burnaby’s goal to reduce emissions by five per cent annually
• SFU’s current boilers are fuelled by natural gas and have a back-up that uses diesel oil. They are located underneath the library – replacing them will allow SFU to reclaim the space for future expansion plans
• New energy plant will burn wood waste from construction sites that is normally sent to landfills
• Biomass technology meets Metro Vancouver’s emission standards
• Project will eliminate almost 11,000 tonnes in carbon emissions

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