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Nexterra is continuously improving and expanding the capabilities of its gasification technology. These activities are undertaken at our Product Development Centre (PDC) located in Kamloops, British Columbia.

In 2003, Nexterra constructed an 8 MMBtu/hr (net usable heat) product development facility which it owns and operates. Expanded significantly in 2007, this commercial scale gasification plant facilitates Nexterra's research and development (R&D), product development, and project specific fuels and applications testing. The facility is staffed by a full time contingent of product development engineers and operators, and is capable of 24/7 operations.

Activities include testing new fuels, improving gasifier performance, process simulation modeling, and developing unique applications to directly fire syngas into kilns, boilers, dryers and other heat recovery and power generation equipment.

"Over the past several years Nexterra has established itself as an international leader in biomass gasification. Their new CHP System has tremendous potential to help UBC, other campuses, communities and industry to achieve their green energy goals while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to collaborating with Nexterra to further develop the technology."
- John Hepburn, UBC Vice President of Research

In addition, the company has an extensive R&D program to develop progressively higher value applications for its gasification technology. Current research programs are focused on syngas upgrading and tar cracking for internal combustion engines. Future programs include syngas enhancement to produce bio-methane, ethanol, hydrogen and other synthetic fuels.

Nexterra's PDC is a unique asset designed for R&D, but it also functions to reduce risk for our customers. Few, if any, other suppliers of biomass conversion technology possess such an in-house facility. By fully vetting the technical aspects of new projects or unique fuels, this commercial scale gasification plant facilitates project development, financing and ultimate approval of many projects. The pilot plant is available for site visits or for project related testing activities.

Nexterra's product development program has received financial and technical support from Canada's National Research Council — Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), the Federal Department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), UBC, the BC Bioenergy Network, FP Innovations, Ethanol BC, GE Energy, GE Jenbacher and the Alberta Research Council.

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Core Gasification System