The Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility (BRDF), located at the UBC Vancouver campus, is an energy generation facility that processes renewable biomass sourced from urban wood waste to generate thermal energy for heating campus buildings.
As part of an effort to enhance operations and safety, the Bioenergy Research Demonstration Facility (BRDF) control room and office have recently been renovated. The purpose of this renovation was to modernize the BRDF control room and personnel quarters, including improvements to the control room layout, lunchroom, washrooms, changing area, offices, meeting room, and storage facilities.
Fostering teamwork, communication, knowledge sharing, and crew alignment
One of the driving factors behind this renovation was the implementation of the thermal plants alternate safety approach (ASA). Officially in effect since July 2022, this approach allows the Campus Energy Center (CEC) to be operated remotely from the BRDF. Prior to its implementation, the operators were divided into two teams, with one group stationed at the CEC and the other at the BRDF.
With the ASA, all 12 thermal operators (power engineers) are now located at the BRDF control headquarters as a unified team. This arrangement fosters teamwork, communication, knowledge sharing, and crew alignment, with a shift engineer directing each crew.
The primary thermal plant control room has been relocated to the BRDF, while an unmanned (remote) control room remains at the CEC. Operators conduct regular checks at the CEC in accordance with the ASA, ensuring continuous operations throughout the day and night.
During the winter, BRDF renovation construction period (January–May 2023), the operators worked from a temporary ATCO trailer serving as a control room, with temporary washroom facilities stationed at the rear of the BRDF building.
Kudos to the operators for their adaptability and patience throughout this transitional period.
