Nexterra Receives $7.7M for Biomass CHP

Nexterra Systems Corp. a supplier of advanced biomass gasification systems announced Monday it has received $7.7 million in funding from the BC Bioenergy Network (BCBN), Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), and Ethanol BC.

This funding will be used to support Nexterra’s recently announced program to commercialize a new high efficiency biomass power system in collaboration with GE Jenbacher and GE Energy (NYSE: GE).

This advanced combined heat and power (CHP) system involves direct-firing syngas from Nexterra’s biomass gasification technology into GE’s Ecomagination-certified Jenbacher internal combustion engines.

Pilot testing of the new CHP system is scheduled to begin before the end of 2009. A first commercial demonstration project is expected to begin in early 2010.

The BCBN portion of this funding follows the memorandum of understanding between BCBN and SDTC announced on Jan. 29, 2009. The SDTC funding was part of the organization’s thirteenth funding round, approved by the Board of Directors in November 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, BCBN and SDTC have agreed to work in partnership to identify high caliber projects within the B.C. bioenergy sector with the goal of increasing the number of investment opportunities. SDTC is an arm’s-length, not-for-profit corporation created by the Government of Canada, which operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative clean technology solutions.

Vancouver-based Nexterra is a leading supplier of biomass gasification solutions that generate heat and power inside-the-fence for customers at institutional and industrial facilities. Sales to date include projects at the University of South Carolina, Dockside Green, the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Lab, Kruger Products and Tolko Industries. Nexterra is actively commercializing new applications for generating electricity with General Electric and to produce renewable energy at wastewater treatment facilities with Andritz.