Community Bioenergy Systems Training

For many remote communities in Canada, diesel displacement by bioenergy could not only increase energy security but reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The motivation behind building this training program stems from the desire of communities to move away from fossil fuel consumption, increase wood fibre utilization in remote locations, provide jobs in the community, and improve the local economy.

What is Community Bioenergy Systems training?

This hands-on training provides participants with knowledge of forestry processes, wood supply chains, and energy principles. This course provides knowledge on how to establish a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant and other bioenergy systems in remote communities.

Who offers the training?

The University of British Columbia

The Alex Fraser Research Forest is part of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. The Faculty of Forestry is globally-recognized for its award-winning education programs, research and initiatives.

FPInnovations

FPInnovations is a private not-forprofit organization that specializes in the creation of solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness.

We acknowledge the support of Natural Resources Canada.

Alex Fraser Research Forest Office

Who should participate?

Training was designed for participants from remote Indigenous communities. This course is for you if:

  • You live in a remote community in Canada;
  • Your community is not connected to the provincial/territorial energy grid system;
  • Your community is powered by a diesel system;
  • You identify as an Indigenous participant.

Non-Indigenous participants may also take this course. Your time will be best invested if you fall within one of those criteria:

  • You live in a remote community in Canada;
  • Your community is not connected to the provincial/territorial energy grid system.
  • Your community is powered by a diesel system.

What will you learn?

Participants learn how to operate a biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, how to do the maintenance, and how to carry out general forestry operations and supply chain management with real equipment. Participants have the opportunity to learn about a range of bioenergy systems.

We are committed to making this course practical and relevant to participants. Participants learn how to assess the feasibility of a bioenergy system for their own community. The course also covers forest management including wildfire risk reduction and biomass supply and quality.

Where does the training take place?

The in-person training takes place at the University of British Columbia’s Alex Fraser Research Forest in Williams Lake, British Columbia. The onsite biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, chipper and other equipment provide students with hands-on experience.

How much does it cost?

For participants from Indigenous communities:

  • Tuition fee waived.
  • Accommodations and meals on site in Williams Lake at no cost (4 nights).
  • Travel subsidies are available to help cover travel cost to Williams Lake, BC. Subsidy depends on registration numbers and provenance of participant, to cover costs to and from Alex Fraser Research Forest (Williams Lake, BC) for in-person training.

For non-Indigenous participants:

We acknowledge the support of Natural Resources Canada.

How to participate?

Choose the weeks that suits you best and fill out the expression of interest form on this page below.

Community Bioenergy Systems – Expression of Interest

Please submit the following form to express your interest in attending the training at the Alex Fraser Research Forest.
The training is held on-site at the Alex Fraser Research Forest in Williams Lake, British Columbia.

Participant Name(Required)
A confirmation e-mail will be sent to this address after submitting the form.
Do you identify as Indigenous?
Which course dates are you interested in?(Required)

Thanks for your interest! FPInnovations will review the information submitted and will follow-up with you.

We acknowledge the support of Natural Resources Canada.