Canadian researchers awarded grant to use waste heat from biofuels to produce clean food

In Canada, researchers at Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University are recipients of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) College University Idea to Innovation grant, valued at more than $725,000. The funds will advance their project, “From Waste to Clean Food,” as they work together with industry partners.

The project combines the expertise of SFU’s Laboratory for Alternative Energy Conversion (LAEC) and KPU’s Institute for Sustainable Horticulture. Industry partners include Argus Control Systems, a pioneer company in greenhouse automation and control, the B.C. Greenhouse Growers’ Association (BCGGA) and Nexus Biofuel, a B.C. biofuel plant company capable of converting farm and municipality waste into high quality fuel.

SFU researchers are developing new, waste-heat driven technologies for the next generation of ‘closed’ greenhouses. These will cover an array of key clean technologies for growing crops and providing potable water that are crucial for closed greenhouses. These technologies will use solar and geo-thermal energy, or waste-heat from biofuel plants, data centers, power plants or other sources.