The University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Forestry’s Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF), in partnership with FPInnovations, is launching the Community Bioenergy Systems Training Program, a new training program designed to help remote and Indigenous communities transition from diesel-based energy to sustainable, wood-based biomass power.
AFRF and FPInnovations built a biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in Williams Lake, BC, and will start offering training using their system in the new year with support from Natural Resources Canada and the Province of British Columbia. The new program trains participants to operate this type of power plant, manage woody debris supply chains for power and heat generation and develop other wood-based bioenergy systems, enabling them to return to their communities and play an active role in transforming local energy infrastructure.
“The Alex Fraser Research Forest has been building their own small-scale wood biomass Combined Heat and Power plant over the past year, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to now share all that we have learned and continue to learn with others who can benefit from this system, says Stephanie Ewen, manager at the Alex Fraser Research Forest. “As a forest licensee operating close to Williams Lake, we have experienced the benefit of having consumers for low-value biomass in our community, and hope to facilitate more remote communities accessing these same benefits through this training program.”
Hands-On Training Workshops
The first two workshops will take place in January and March 2025 at the AFRF in Williams Lake, BC. Participants will receive hands-on training using the on-site CHP plant, wood chippers, and other specialized equipment, gaining practical experience in bioenergy system operations.
Williams Lake’s forest industry currently focuses on producing commodity building products such as dimensional lumber and plywood, but is also well set up to utilize the by-products, like treetops and limbs. In more remote communities, where they are also processing high value lumber, they are often not able to fully utilize the by-products. The Community Bioenergy Systems Training Program will teach participants how these lower value by-products can instead be used locally as biomass to generate heat and power for their community.
“FPInnovations is pleased to be at the heart of this collaborative project with First Nations, Natural Resources Canada, the Province of British Columbia and UBC, says Stéphane Renou, president and CEO of FPInnovations. “Our expertise and knowledge are being passed on to interested communities to create energy independence and while creating a clean source of energy, economic development and local jobs. This project has been in the making for many years, and we are excited to see it become a reality.”
A Pathway to Energy Independence
The training program focuses on Indigenous and remote communities, especially those not connected to provincial or territorial energy grids. It offers practical knowledge in forestry processes, wood supply chains, and energy principles – skills essential to create energy independence while providing a clean source of energy, economic development, and local jobs.
How to Participate
The program is open to participants across Canada. Individuals from Indigenous and remote communities are especially encouraged to apply. Tuition fees are waived for participants from Indigenous communities, with accommodations and meals provided at no cost for four nights in Williams Lake, BC. Travel subsidies are also available, with amounts depending on registration and participant location, to help cover travel to and from the Alex Fraser Research Forest for in-person training. To express interest, visit the AFRF website or contact bioenergy@fpinnovations.ca.
