"I did a lot of research of what fields would allow me to combine my skills with my passion for sustainability, and engineering popped up as an option."
Felicia Crozier
- Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science
- Grad year: 2019
- Program:
- Campus: Vancouver
Job: Process Lead, Convertus Group
Tell us about your job.
I’m a process leader at the City of Surrey Organic Waste and Biofuel Facility operated by Convertus Group. This facility was the first fully integrated closed-loop organic waste management system in North America and is the largest of its kind on the continent.
I manage a team of 12 and oversee the process to ensure the biofuel facility is running smoothly and that we are meeting our performance targets.
Convertus Group - Surrey Facility
So what is the process used to convert waste to renewable natural gas?
We take in all the curbside organic food and yard waste collected by the city of Surrey and then convert it using an anaerobic digestion process (which is basically just biological degradation in the absence of oxygen) to create biofuel and compost.
We process around 2,500 tonnes of waste each week.
One of the challenges we face is that our feedstock – the organic waste we receive – is extremely inconsistent.
In the summer, for example, we get a lot of grass clippings, in the fall we get tons of leaves and in the winter months, the waste is almost entirely food. The make-up of the feedstock changes how we manage the conversion process and how we “feed” the biological material to keep the nutrient levels healthy.
Our end product is renewable natural gas, which we then inject directly into Fortis BC’s natural gas grid where it is delivered to homes and businesses across the province for heating, cooking and industrial use. The leftover solid material from our process is converted into Class A compost that is then used by local farms.
How long have you been working at the facility?
I worked here as a student intern partway through my undergrad degree when we injected our first renewable natural gas into the grid. After I graduated in 2019, the company created a position to hire me on full time.
What do you like most about your job?
I love the problem-solving aspect of this job. It’s very much a balancing game to get everything right to optimize our production rate and ensure the consistent composition of our biogas.
In the moment, it can sometimes be very frustrating to have something that isn’t working, whether that’s a piece of equipment or something else. But finding a successful solution is extremely satisfying.
I also find it very rewarding to be working for a company that is producing clean energy. As a leader in this space, we are asked to share knowledge on new projects because we have so much built-up process knowledge. The provincial government has a target of 30% renewable gas in the grid by 2030, so there will likely be a lot of facilities coming online to meet that goal.
What got you interested in engineering in the first place?
I’ve always loved spending time outdoors, just hanging out in nature or going camping and fishing. In school, math, physics and chemistry were my strongest subjects.
I did a lot of research of what fields would allow me to combine my skills with my passion for sustainability, and engineering popped up as an option. After first year, I knew it was definitely the right choice for me.
Any highlights from your time at UBC Engineering?
I initially started out in Chemical Engineering, but after doing some further research and learning about the potential of biofuels, I switched into Chemical and Biological Engineering. I really enjoyed the fourth-year chemical engineering labs where we got to design our own projects.
Some of them ended up being more than four hours, which was intense, but it was a very cool experience because you were directly applying the concepts and theory from class.
Anything else you want to share?
If you’re considering engineering, be prepared to put in the work. It’s not always easy! But you will learn so much and it can be extremely rewarding to make it through.
Also, don’t be afraid to try something out even if you’re not 100% sure. You have to start somewhere!
