Biomass Heating

A stroll down Balmoral Street reveals a striking addition to UWinnipeg’s campus—a large metal silo by Manitoba Hall, central to the University’s innovative biomass heating system. This sustainable energy source burns wood pellets to produce renewable heat, making UWinnipeg’s system one of the few biomass projects in Manitoba and the first in an urban setting.

Biomass provides an efficient and low-emission fuel option, running on locally sourced wood pellets fed into two automated 100 kW boilers in Ashdown Hall.

This project aligns with the University’s sustainability strategy, which aims to source 5% of campus energy from unconventional renewables by 2025, with biomass already covering over half that target. Thanks to a partnership with Manitoba Hydro, which provided essential funding and development, the project also paves the way for future energy initiatives.

Beyond heating, the biomass system supports campus research and public engagement, with plans for sustainability courses to explore biomass further and a public art piece to explain its benefits.