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Energy Generation- How it Works
- Case Studies & Testimonials
- Foothill Greenhouses Ltd
- Taylor Lumber Co. Ltd.
- Ouje Bougoumou Village
- Spruce Falls Inc
- Grande Prairie EcoPower
- Campbellton Hospital
Power Utility - Grande Prairie EcoPower Centre (Grand Prairie, Alberta)
This $65 million renewable energy project led by Canadian Gas and Electric Inc. has been built adjacent to the local sawmill owned by Canfor, Canada's largest softwood lumber producer and uses wood waste formerly incinerated for disposal as fuel to generate 25MW of electrical power plus thermal heat for kiln drying.
The EcoPower Centre has an agreement in place with the Alberta government to purchase 60% of the power produced for the next 20 years with the municipality of Grande Prairie agreeing to pick up the remaining portion that is not used in adjacent mill and also another Canfor sawmill 80km away.
In 2005, two shop assembled KMW bioenergy combustion systems were commissioned and installed. They are attached to two shop assembled package boilers, producing a total energy output of 226,000 lbs/hr. Running at design capacity the bioenergy combustion systems utilize approximately 950 tons of wood residue per day (a by-product of the local sawmill).
Operations at the Grande Prairie EcoCentre will reduce particulate emissions produced by the sawmill by over 80% with the elimination of their existing silo burner. Also, by using steam for the operation of their dry kilns, the mill terminates the combustion of over 300,000 giga joules of natural gas. Add to that, the cutbacks in the use of other fossil fuels and the EcoCentre creates a significant direct reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The EcoCentre benefits extend beyond environmental and financial, they extend into the community with the creation of new, permanent jobs and increased security for those already employed by the local mills that now benefit from lower and more stable energy costs, not mention the pride in having a world class renewable energy project in their community.
Currently there is a plan for the EcoPower Centre to supply heat for a district heating system in Grande Prairie which would greatly increase the already significant benefits of this project.