BRIC pilot reactor research on bio-oil featured in a popular article “From the Deep Fryer to Your Gas Tank”
March 18, 2026
As a follow-up to his article entitled “Will 2026 Finally Be the Year of Biochar?“, Kamyar Razavi, a writer for The New Climate publication, published “From the Deep Fryer to Your Gas Tank“.
A summary of the article is as follows: the author explores the potential of used cooking oil and other organic waste as viable biofuels to decarbonize transportation. Companies, like West Coast Reduction, are repurposing used restaurant oil and animal fats—materials that often clog city sewers as “fatbergs”—into low-carbon feedstocks for oil refineries. While technologically feasible, the transition faces significant hurdles. To make biofuels from used vegetable oil or animal fat, the feedstock requires intensive chemical processing, such as hydrogenation to remove oxygen and filtration to impurities like leftover food particles. Another source of biofuels, “pyrolysis oil” (derived from wood chips or plastic in a pyrolyzer reactor) show promise. Researchers lead by Professor Tony Bi in UBC Biorefining Research and Innovation host a novel microwave pyrolysis pilot reactor to produce a high bio-oil from sawdust. However, the current commercial pyrolysis oil producers currently lack the scale required by major refineries, which demand millions of tonnes to remain viable. Ultimately, the article suggests that while used cooking oil is a valuable piece of the puzzle, achieving a meaningful impact will require a diverse “all-of-the-above” approach supported by government incentives and robust supply chains.
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Congratulations to recipients of John Tiedje Fellowship 2024-2025 in Clean Energy and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
March 9, 2026
Clean Energy Research Centre is happy to announce the two recipients of John Tiedje Fellowship 2024-2025!
Recipients of John Tiedje Fellowship 2024-2025
Ishanka Perera, PhD Candidate, UBCO School of Engineering, Civil Engineering
Biography: Ishanka Perera is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Life Cycle Management Laboratory. His research focuses on the intersection of building science, environmental sustainability, and human health. Prior to his doctoral studies, Ishanka earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, before completing his Master of Applied Science (MASc) at UBCO. During his MASc, Ishanka developed a comprehensive methodological framework to facilitate the implementation of the BC Energy Step Code across British Columbia’s diverse climate zones. His work provided a life-cycle emissions- and cost-based framework to enhance the sustainability of new multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) and achieve the STEP code performance goals. Building on this expertise, Ishanka’s PhD research adopts an occupant-centric approach to high-performance residential constructions. His current work seeks to balance energy efficiency and carbon mitigation with Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) to improve occupant health and well-being. He aims to redefine how the industry measures residential building performance and to implement building energy codes by integrating indoor environmental quality through a holistic pre-construction design assessment framework. Ishanka actively collaborates with key industrial partners, including Fortis BC, BC Housing, and Mitacs Canada, to advance a resilient, sustainable building stock and mitigate climate change impacts across the Canadian residential sector.
Katherine Latosinsky, Master Student, UBCO School of Engineering, Electrical Engineering
Biography: Katherine Latosinsky is a Master’s student in Electrical Engineering at UBC Okanagan who is developing new technology for solar energy generation. Her research on solution-processed tandem solar cells lays the foundations for high-efficiency solar panels manufactured with low-cost methods similar to inkjet printing. Katherine also leads the Solar Energy Ambassador high school outreach program at UBCO. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science at the University of Toronto.
Learn more about Katherine in this Student Spotlight article.
About the Award
John Tiedje was a graduate of the Department of Chemical Engineering at UBC who went on to a successful career with Imperial Oil, where he was responsible for developing several new processes for converting petroleum into value-added products. He served as manager of Esso Frances research lab in Mont-Saint-Aignan, France; as manager of the Esso Petroleum Canada Research Department in Sarnia,Ontario, until his retirement in 1983; and as chair of the Canadian Committee for the World Petroleum Congress.
Fellowships is awarded to students whose research will help create and maintain a healthy environment, with preference for research developing clean and renewable energy, advancing the electrification of the economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, or improving the efficiency of energy utilization.
Amer, Mona
Mona Amer
Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellow
mona.amer@ubc.ca
Home department: Civil Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Facility
Research Interests
- Digital Twins
- Structural Health Monitoring
- Wind Energy in Seismic-Prone Areas
- Community-centered Energy Transition
CERC members receive nearly $1.3 million in funding from B.C. Knowledge Development Fund
January 16, 2026
CERC members were awarded nearly $1.3 million in funding from the Government of BC, the Province announced on December 15. Seven projects received funds for research infrastructure through the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF). The cutting-edge labs and equipment supported by the BCKDF help UBC attract top researchers and innovators, and build impactful partnerships with industry.
A total of $15.4 million was invested into 71 UBC-led projects through the BCKDF. This funding is part of the Province’s Look West plan for jobs and industry, which outlines B.C.’s vision to deliver jobs and opportunities by strengthening the workforce to develop a more independent economy that can stand on its own. This includes delivering major projects quicker, diversifying markets and growing targeted sectors, such as technology, aerospace, marine, AI and quantum, life sciences, agriculture and construction innovation.
CERC member-led projects
Kiana Amini (Materials Engineering, UBCV)
Advancing Redox Flow Battery Technology and Electrochemical Carbon Capture: A Parallel Development Approach
Paradis, Gregory (Forest Resources Management, UBCV)
Cumulative effects of Climate Change, Anthropogenic and Natural Disturbances on forest Ecosystem Services (CCCANDiES)
Haibo Feng (Wood Science, UBCV)
Infrastructure for innovative building materials and systems toward zero carbon buildings
Eric Lees (Chemical and Biological Engineering, UBCV)
Electrification of chemical manufacturing and separations
Xiaoxiao Li (Electrical and Computer Engineering, UBCV)
Building a Decentralized Future with Foundation Models: Continual Learning and Monitoring at the Edge
Dominic Liao-McPherson (Mechanical Engineering, UBCV)
Safe cooperation and co-existence for multi-agent robotic systems
Alexandra Tavasoli (Mechanical Engineering, UBCV)
Engineering Solar-Driven Industrial Chemical Processes for the Net Zero Economy
CERC researcher featured in a medium article “Will 2026 Finally Be the Year of Biochar?”
January 12, 2026
Kamyar Razavi, a writer for The New Climate publication, wrote an article entitled “Will 2026 Finally Be the Year of Biochar?“.
A summary of the article is as follows: Biochar—produced by heating agricultural or woody biomass in low-oxygen conditions—is gaining renewed attention as a climate solution. Advocates argue it can lock carbon away for centuries while improving soil health, reducing fertilizer use, and even filtering pollutants. Companies like Charm Industrial are deploying mobile pyrolysis units to convert corn stover and forest thinnings into biochar or bio‑oil directly at the source, avoiding costly transport of bulky biomass. Forest managers see potential in turning low‑value wood from wildfire‑prevention thinning into a valuable carbon‑sequestering product. Despite its promise, scaling remains difficult. Supply chains are underdeveloped, markets are still emerging, and many potential buyers don’t understand biochar’s benefits. Researchers, such as Dr. Tony Bi in UBC Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC), are exploring advanced applications—such as wastewater treatment—to expand demand, but these technologies are still in early stages. The global biochar market is growing rapidly, yet widespread adoption hinges on stronger policy incentives, greater awareness, and more robust commercial infrastructure. (Summary written with the assistance of MS Copilot).
Dr. Tony Bi, a former CERC director, was quoted by the author of the article: “Biochar is very porous, like a sponge, explains Tony Bi, a chemical engineering professor, and the former director at the UBC research lab. This means it is perfect for removing harmful particles and molecules from toxic compounds.”
He also noted that “a lot of the technologies are still at the pilot scale or the demonstration (scale). That’s why I say the technology still needs to be matured before we can get it deployed.”
Urban Freight System Emissions: January 2026 Newsletter
Below is the overview section of the newsletter. To read the newsletter in full, please click on this hyperlink (PDF file) or on the image above.
Overview
Welcome to the second newsletter from the Urban Freight System Emissions program, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Climate Action and Awareness Fund (CAAF). This newsletter highlights recent project developments for public stakeholders who share our commitment to reducing the environmental impacts of transportation in Canadian communities.
Introduction
Freight transportation plays a vital role in our cities—but it also contributes significantly to climate change and air quality issues. As ports, governments, and fleet operators explore ways to decarbonize this sector, real-world emissions data and decision-support tools are needed to guide the effective adoption of alternative fuels and technologies.
Our program brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts in alternative fuels, atmospheric chemistry, aerosols, pollutant dispersion, emissions modeling, policy analysis, data science, and respiratory health. By examining freight emissions from multiple perspectives—and under real-world operating conditions—we aim to generate high-quality data, tools, and case studies that support practical decision-making to improve climate outcomes, air quality, and public health.
The articles in this newsletter (click here to read) are written by researchers at the forefront of our work. We hope this publication not only brings their latest findings closer to the stakeholders they aim to support, but also creates space for dialogue. Your insights, questions, and experiences are valuable in shaping research that is relevant, responsive, and impactful. We welcome your engagement as we continue to advance solutions for cleaner, healthier urban freight systems.
In This Newsletter
The release of this newsletter follows our mid-program workshop held at the UBC Vancouver campus on December 8, 2025. The workshop brought together the Urban Freight Emissions research team and a broad range of external stakeholders for a two-way exchange of ideas. The workshop combined presentations of recent findings with open discussion on how this research can be applied to real-world freight decarbonization and air quality challenges in urban environments.
The articles in this issue reflect the breadth of research discussed at the workshop and underway across the program. Topics include the development of real-world emissions inventories for on-road goods movement, mobile emissions measurement campaigns, and analyses of how traffic operations and urban form influence air quality. Several contributions focus on maritime and rail systems, including greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions associated with shipping and trade routes, improved emission factors for alternative maritime fuels, and long-term in-use monitoring of NOx and particulate emissions. The issue also highlights work on the physical, chemical, and toxicological properties of exhaust emissions, providing essential context for understanding environmental and air-quality impacts.
Upcoming Events & Activities
In 2026, research activities will continue across several core areas of the Urban Freight Emissions Program.
- On-road hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel truck emissions testing will be performed to connect the dynamometer measurement campaigns to the real-world. This concludes a series of 6 measurement campaigns conducted with program partner, Hydra Energy.
- Roadside air quality monitoring measurement campaign(s) will continue in 2026 to increase the collected dataset size and possibly consider additional measurement locations. These measurements follow on from a successful pilot study conducted on the Robert Banks causeway at GCT Deltaport.
- Mobile air quality monitoring measurement campaigns aimed at characterizing traffic-related air pollution, understanding the impact of urban form on air quality, and supporting effective mitigation strategies will be commencing in 2026.
- Knowledge mobilization is a focus for our team as we move into the second half of the project, and we welcome your feedback on opportunities to engage with communities of research and practice.
We’re excited to share these updates as we move into the next phase of the program. Whether you’re in policy, industry, research, or community work, we hope the findings in this newsletter are useful and spark ideas for action. We’re always keen to connect—so if something here resonates, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Lead Investigators: Dr. Amanda Giang (amanda.giang@ubc.ca) & Dr. Patrick Kirchen (patrick.kirchen@ubc.ca)
Program Manager: Dr. Jeremy Rochussen (jeremy.rochussen@ubc.ca)
Prof. Tony Bi and PhD student, Hui Zhu part of a team that won BC Quality Awards – Runner Up for Achievement in Sustainable Health Care
December 15, 2025
Dr. Tony Bi (a CERC member and a former CERC director) and Hui (Shirley) Zhu, a PhD student collaborated with Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) have had their project on switching from intravenous to oral drug delivery recognized as Runner-Up in Sustainable Health Care.
The project has been awarded Runner-Up in Sustainable Health Care, and the results have been accepted for publication in a healthcare journal: “Using a Planetary Health Lens to Quantify Intravenous Use of Bioequivalent Antimicrobials When Oral Administration Is Feasible,” in Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada.
CERC congratulates Tony and Shirley on this excellent achievement!
For the detail description of the BC quality award the team received, visit https://healthqualitybc.ca/quality-awards/winners/intravenous-to-oral-antimicrobial-switch-a-win-for-patients-and-the-planet/
Liu, Zheng
Zheng Liu
Professor
zheng.liu@ubc.ca
Home department: UBC Okanagan School of Engineering
Website: Intelligent Sensing, Diagnostics and Prognostics Research Lab
Research Interests
- Intelligent Sensing, Measurement, and Instrumentation
- Diagnostics, Prognostics, and Health Management
- Predictive Maintenance
- Digital Twin
- Computational Intelligence and Data/Information Fusion
- Non-Destructive Testing & Evaluation
- Machine/Computer Vision
- Data Analytics and Machine Learning
Research Projects
- Thermal Image Translation for Enhanced Environmental Perception at Night: Humans have poor night vision compared to many animals, partly because human eyes lack tapetum lucidum. This biological deficiency may lead to several undesirable fatalities. Hence, context enhancement plays a critical role in many night vision applications. In the night situation, the visible camera does not function properly, but the Infrared (IR) thermal camera works well and can highlight the objects with emitted energy. Theoretically, the useful semantic information of an image to the human visual system (HVS) includes contour, texture, and color. However, the IR image only has the contour information. In this research project, we aim to develop a framework to translate the IR image at night to the color visible image with rich semantic information for enhanced environmental perception at night.
- Deep Multi-Modal Image Fusion for Enhanced Situation Awareness: Automated situation awareness in complex and dynamic environments is a challenging task. An accurate perception of the target is critical to completing a mission. In this research project, the objective is to develop a deep learning multi-modal image fusion algorithm for enhanced situation awareness and toward the preservation of soldier safety in operations, the achievement of threat identification and possible avoidance, the minimization of collateral damages, and the achievement of improved speed, accuracy, confidence, assurance, and precision of impact as part of the operations decision-action cycle.
- Data-driven Predictive Analytics for Infrastructure Management: Canadian municipalities have reported that 59% of the water systems needed repair, and the status of 43% of these systems is unacceptable. Thus, it is important to have an integrated asset management system to optimize the rehabilitation process. Integrated infrastructure management consists of several components: asset condition monitoring and evaluation, pipe failure consequence, and risk analysis. Our study aims to provide an integrated decision-support framework for asset management by developing a general ensemble learning framework for pipe performance prediction and a weighted-score system for pipe risk analysis.
Shahrad, Mohammad
Mohammad Shahrad
Assistant Professor
mshahrad@ece.ubc.ca
Home department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Website: Cloud Infrastructure Research for Reliability, Usability, and Sustainability (CIRRUS) Lab
Research Interests
- Cloud Computing
- Serverless Computing
- Resource Management
- Data Center Efficiency
Research Projects
At the intersection of software systems and computer architecture, Dr. Mohammad Shahrad’s research is focused on building resource-efficient cloud computing systems. He has worked across the computing stack toward this goal. This includes building novel scheduling schemes for different cloud workloads, modeling user-provider interactions to propose new pricing models, and building a new processor for efficient off-chip scalability of cloud workloads. Mohammad’s recent focus has been on enabling and efficiently managing emerging cloud services, such as serverless computing. He has collaborated with different industry teams in this space.
Mohammad’s research has been deployed in production, won the USENIX Community Award, and been featured in the CACM Research Highlights. Prior to joining UBC, Mohammad was a Computer Science Lecturer at Princeton University. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University and spent a year at Microsoft Research working on cloud efficiency projects.
Zhang, Justin
Justin Zhang
Assistant Professor
justin.zhang@ubc.ca
Home department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Website: Power Electronics Systems and Informatics Laboratory (PESIL)
Research Interests
- Power Electronics
- Grid Integration of Alternative/Renewable Energy Sources and Electric Vehicles
- High-Voltage DC (HVDC) Grids
- Microgrids
- Cyber-Security in Energy Systems
Research Projects
- Grid-forming and grid-following converter controls
- Cyber-security in power electronics systems
- Solid-state circuit breakers