O P T I O N S2 0 0 3T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F T H E C A N A D I A N A S S O C I A T I O N F O R R E N E W A B L E E N E R G I E S

Applications of Renewable Energies For a Corporate Environment

G R E E N P O W E R • G R E E N H E A T • G R E E N F U E L S

This publication contains recycled stock

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 3 5

O P T I O N S2 0 0 3

Published for:the canadian association for renewable energies

we c.a.r.e.

435 Brennan Ottawa, ON K1Z 6J9

Tel: (613) 728-0822 Fax: (613) 728-2505Email: eggertson@renewables.ca

www.renewables.ca

Published by Matrix Group Inc.

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Publisher:Maurice LaBorde

Editor-in-Chief:Donald C. Norman

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Contributing Writers:Bill Eggertson, Charles Norman, Shannon Lutter

Finance / Accounting & Administration:Shoshana Weinberg

Director of Marketing & Circulation:James Hamilton

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Applications of Renewable Energies for a

Corporate Environment

16 Green Power

19 Green Heat

23 Green Fuels

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 36

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Message from Bill Eggertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Executive Director of c.a.r.e.

The Economics of Going Green . . . . . . . . . . .11

Assistance Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Applications of Renewable Energies . . . . . .16-28

Regional Perspectives

The North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

British Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Saskatchewan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Manitoba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Ontario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Quebec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Atlantic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

All companies in Canadaconsume energy in threemain applications: elec-tricity; space conditioning(heating & cooling); and

transportation. All three can be met (tovarying degrees) by at least one renew-able energy technology, with significantbenefits on the economic and environ-mental bottom lines, as well as numer-ous intangible benefits that are becom-ing increasingly valuable in the market-place.

'Green Power' is the easiest renew-able energy to understand, and involvesthe use of wind turbines or solar panelsor small hydroelectric facilities to gen-erate electricity for transmission via thegrid, rather than relying on coal- orgas-fired plants or nuclear reactors.These technologies are included underthe term 'distributed generation,' andcan be installed to provide power for aspecific remote site (often linking witha diesel generator in a hybrid configu-ration).

'Green Fuel' is an ethanol blend orbiodiesel liquid that displaces the con-sumption (wholly or in part) of gasolineor pure diesel. Again, the efficiency andcost of green fuel can be quantifiedaccurately.

'Green Heat' is the thermal heatingor cooling of a building, or heating ofwater, with the use of renewable energy.The federal government recognizes fourtechnologies: earth energy (also calledGeoExchange or ground-coupled heatpump) which can meet all three applica-tions; solar thermal water heating; solarthermal air heating; and advanced bio-mass systems. Thermal energy is moredifficult to measure than power or fuel,but these technologies can (alone or in ahybrid system) supply up to 100 per centof building load.

The canadian association for renew-able energies clearly represents a 'biased'view of Canada's energy future, but it isour pleasure to provide this book in thehopes that it will explain, first and fore-most, how your company can save

money by adopting an appropriaterenewable energy technology. Unless itmakes economic sense, it ain't gonnahappen.

Once we've sold you on the fact thatit can work and it does save money, thenwe can explain the environmentalimpacts of our technologies and thelikelihood of enhancing a more positivecorporate image for your operations.

Finally, you'll want to know of theunexpected and unquantifiable benefitsfrom using renewables, which can rangefrom simple improvements in indoor airquality to enhanced occupant comfortand reduced operating risks.

The companies mentioned in thisbook are companies, like yours, thatbelieve strongly in what they do andhow they do it.They would be glad toexplain how their solutions can matchwith your problems, and the widerange of savings you will experience.

Thank you for your interest inlearning a bit more about renewableenergies.

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The Applications ofRenewable Energies

A message from Bill Eggertson, Executive Director of the canadian association for renewable energies

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There are two basic drivers that encour-age companies to consider the adop-tion of renewable energy technologiesin a corporate environment: it is anappropriate response to the growing

concern over the environment; and it makes econom-ic sense to do so.

From both standpoints, the best 'first step' is toconserve energy and to implement energy efficiencyat every level of your operation. Reduce your demandfor energy as much as possible in as many applicationsas possible, and accept the concept that the leastexpensive watt is a 'negawatt,' where the savings willrepeat forever. Options run the gamut from integrat-ing new processes and negotiating cost-savings withan energy service company, to simply closing windowsand turning off lights when not in use.

Data indicate that companies are continuing toincrease energy efficiency levels, but there is still sig-nificant room for improvement on a local and anational basis. Once your demand has been reduced tothe lowest level possible, then you can start to consid-er your options for the supply of energy and that is thefocus of this publication.

It is widely accepted that Canada's economicgrowth has been fuelled by the availability of low-costhydrocarbon energies which are used to power ourmachines, heat our factories and drive our vehicles.There is also growing recognition that the continuedgrowth in energy demand will reduce availability ofthat supply option over time (either long-term orshort-term) and that there are negative impacts on theenvironment from increased use of combustion fuels.

Corporate Canada should be (and is) concernedwith environmental issues, but the goal of a company

is to provide goods and services to the market at acompetitive price. For this reason, progressive compa-nies are adopting renewable energy tech-nologies for seven economic reasons:1. the operating costs for almost anyrenewable energy system ARElower than the operating costs ofconventional hydrocarbon fuels,and lifecycle savings easily out-weigh any first-cost premiumto install the green option (inmany applications, renewablesoffer the lowest first-costinstallation, which makes theirlifecycle savings even better onthe bottom line);2. renewables are a more pre-dictable supply than fossil fuels andcan guarantee stable pricing because

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the ECONOMICSof going GREENGoing green makes sense!

Not only for the environment but for your wallet as well!

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their local origin makes them immunefrom global politics;3. there are numerous indirect benefitsof using renewables, including a highlevel of acceptance from consumers andensuing PR value;4. companies which adopt renewableshave an opportunity to become an 'earlyadopter' for technologies that are pre-dicted to become a major energy sourcein the future, and to obtain the advan-tages of becoming involved in the earlystages;5. development of emission tradingcredits offers a promise of additional rev-enue streams for companies that produceor consume renewable energies;6. renewables are modular and can beadded in the future, with less environ-mental concerns and regulatory controls;7. the implementation of renewables

offers greater flexibility and scope forcompanies (for example, the use of earthenergy technology in schools provides'free cooling' which not only reducesenergy costs, but could allow 12-monthuse of facilities and year-round school-ing under policy changes).

Once a company understands thepotential savings and commits to theadoption of renewables, the largest bar-rier is the lack of information on how toevaluate a site or application. Unlikeconventional building designs, moststand-alone applications in renewablesrequire a reasonably sophisticated analy-sis to optimize the load profile and todetermine the best option.

An engineer or consultant ultimatelywill be involved in any commercial

design, but the Canadian governmenthas developed a free software programthat serves as a pre-feasibility analysistool for renewable energy technologies.RETScreen™ uses a MS Excel™spreadsheet to model the demand curvesfor a specific site based on broad param-eters, and can calculate the cost to install,lifecycle costs, payback period and cashflow, as well as the reduction in green-house gas emissions.

The software can assess the econom-ic impact of green power (wind, solarPV, small hydro) and green heat tech-nologies (earth energy, solar thermalwater, solar thermal air, biomass, passivesolar). In the future, modules will exam-ine generation from biogas, biomass,geothermal and solar thermal, high effi-ciency lighting and motors, combinedheat and power (cogeneration), and dis-trict heating.

The program can be downloaded freeof charge at www.RETScreen.net.

Case studies and market studies areuseful resources for companies that wantto see how similar firms were able toimplement renewables, and at what cost.A large database of studies exists amongfederal and provincial agencies, withutilities and municipal governmentsbecoming champions in the transition torenewables.

A number of news services (such asthe canadian association for renewableenergies) provide details on trends anddevelopments in renewables, and tradeassociations can provide relevant dataand testimonials from commercial con-sumers for their technology. A growing

number of specific non-energy industrysectors are assessing the economicimpact of renewables, and the quantityand quality of information available(both in print and electronic form)allows interested companies to retrievecopious amounts of targeted details forany application in any region of thecountry.

Some renewable energy optionsincur a premium to install because theylack the economies of scale of conven-tional energy sources, but many of themoffer the lowest first-cost option and, inall cases, lifecycle costs should be lower.This economic edge frequently does notreflect the predicted price curve forhydrocarbon energies, nor the possibledepletion of reserves in those fuels dueto geological or geopolitical reasons.Thepredictions assume a steady increase indemand from consumers for cleaneralternatives, but do not reflect any possi-ble environmental penalties for contin-ued use of carbon fuels and other finan-cial burdens placed on conventionalconsumption patterns.

Development of renewable energytechnologies in the 30 years since the oilembargo has dropped the price andraised the efficiency of solar photovolta-ic and wind devices by as much as 90 percent, and prices will continue to declineas these product are refined and theirpenetration rates increase. By contrast,the price of natural gas and oil will risewhile its availability drops, leadingCorporate Canada to one logical con-clusion: renewable energy makes eco-nomic cents.

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All technology or socialtransitions in modernhistory have required thesupport of government,ranging from philosophi-

cal endorsement ("it's the right thing todo"), to fiscal and monetary regulations,to direct incentives which skew the mar-ketplace in the direction desired by gov-ernment.

In Canada, government support forrenewable energies has relied on all threemethods.

The strongest support for renewableswas evident in the 1970s, following thesupply embargo that forced oil-consum-ing nations to implement conservationmeasures and to explore for alternativesupply options. At that time, solar andwind were in a nascent stage of develop-ment, and required funds to 'kick start'their technologies into the market. Inaddition to direct financial support at thetime, one of the enduring benefits wasthe evolution of new energy paradigmswhich allowed companies to shatter thepreviously held belief that energy con-sumption was correlated directly withprofitability.

Support for renewables from variouslevels of government in Canada has beeninconsistent in the 30 years since the

OPEC cri-

sis. Strong and growing demand forenergy has been tempered somewhat byutility led demand side managementprograms and overall increases in energyefficiency, but the constitutional impasseover energy continues to impede effortsto develop renewables.

In recent years, public concern overenvironmental issues and the linkbetween energy use and global warm-ing, has encouraged governments to takea new look at the potential supply fromrenewables, and a number of initiativesbode well for the future.

At the federal level, the largest singlesupport measure has been the ten-yearWind Power Production Incentive,which will provide $260 million to off-set the cost of generating green powerfrom wind turbines and, in turn, reducethe price to consumers. A similar pro-gram is expected for the domesticethanol industry, to encourage develop-ment of green fuels.

The purchase of eligible renewableenergy equipment qualifies for Class43.1 accelerated capital cost allowance,with additional support for intangiblecosts under the Canadian Renewable &Conservation Expense. Federal measuresto comply with the Kyoto Protocol areexpected to include assistance mecha-nisms for renewables, and $25 million

will soon be awarded under theMarket Incentive Program to

help companies market green power toconsumers.

For direct assistance, the RenewableEnergy Deployment Initiative providesgrants of up to $80,000 to install solarthermal water, solar thermal air andadvanced biomass combustion systems(the earth energy industry asked not toreceive a rebate for their systems underREDI). The Commercial BuildingIncentive Program offers an incentive ofup to $60,000 of building designs whichreduce energy consumption, with analmost-automatic incentive if an earthenergy system is used as the source ofspace heating and cooling.

Direct contracts for unique andreplicable projects in renewable energiesare negotiated with both federal andprovincial departments and a number of research-related funds are availablesuch as the Sustainable DevelopmentTechnology Canada, that funds cleantechnology projects which contribute toreductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The federal government has beeninstrumental in developing the domesticmarket for renewables through its pro-curement of green power. Since 1997, ithas purchased (predominantly) wind-generated electricity in various regionswhich, in turn, has provided a stablemarket and incremental growth for thetechnologies.

At the provincial level, assistance

Assistance Programs

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from government or power utilitiesvaries across Canada, but support hasincreased in recent years, partly toaddress emissions and climate changeissues, but equally as an economic devel-opment measure. Some recent examplesinclude the goal in Ontario to source3,000 MW of power from renewableenergy facilities, while Hydro Quebechas set a target of 1,000 MW from wind-farms that rely on locally-manufacturedequipment. The government of Albertawants to reach a target of 90 per cent ofits own electricity from renewables,while Manitoba Hydro has had a finan-cial support program for earth energysystems for two years. Provincial sales taxin a number of jurisdictions is rebatedfor the purchase of renewables, withOntario encouraging both green powerand green heat systems in order to meeta capacity deficiency in the province.

Studies from the United States, theEuropean Union and other countrieshave been repeatedly validated in

Canada to show that more long-termjobs are created through the develop-ment of renewable energies and energyefficiency, per dollar of public invest-ment, than are created through conven-tional megaprojects. Side benefits of thetransition to ethanol include significantvalue to domestic farmers, and the farm-ing industry also supports windfarms asa revenue diversification measure.

One measure that is advocated by therenewable energy industry is the settingof a 'Renewable Portfolio Standard,'which has proved to be effective inmany U.S. states and in Europe andAustralia. A RPS allows the market todetermine the optimal mix of capacity atthe lowest cost available and simplyserves as direction to all energy suppliersto increase their share of renewablestowards a set goal.The measure is viewedas more appropriate than direct grants,and is more flexible while allowingchanges in the target based on marketrealities.

A number of provincial governmentsand utilities have set or suggested suchtargets to ensure that consumers haveaccess to green power (green heat hasnever been factored into a RPS in thiscountry), but the federal governmentlacks the authority to introduce at thehigher level.

There is growing interest in thepotential for emission trading credits,where companies which reduce theirGHG emissions from the introductionof renewable energy systems can 'sell'that reduction credit to other companieswhich are less able to reduce their emis-sions. As long as the overall nationalemissions drop, such credits allow themarket to identify the best opportunitiesfor implementation at the lowest cost.

Due to the ever-changing dynamicsof measures at various government levels, companies should check withtheir provincial / territorial governmentand /or electric utility to seek specificassistance that may be available.

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Applications ofElectricity

With Canada’s growing demand for electricity - focus is being placedon government energy policies throughout the sector.

Canada's demand forelectricity is growingin all sectors and is thecentral focus of gov-ernment energy poli-

cies. A stable, reliable and affordablesource of high-quality electricity iscritical for economic growth, but gen-eration facilities in some regions ofthe country are one of the majorsources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Two-thirds of Canada's power is generated by hydroelectric siteslocated in Quebec, Manitoba,British Columbia, Ontario andNewfoundland & Labrador, amongothers. Despite concerns by someenvironmentalists over the ecologicalimpact from large hydro sites,hydropower technology is a source oflow-GHG generation, and a numberof smaller sites have been certifiedunder the national EcoLogo program.Large hydro facilities are included ingovernment estimates of the amountof renewable energy capacity, andcomprises the vast majority of thatcapacity.

In addition to hydroelectricity,Canada also has a relatively high out-put from nuclear reactors, which arealso a non-emitting source of GHG.The term 'green power' is sometimesused for nuclear in the context ofemissions, but nuclear is not consid-ered a renewable energy for this doc-ument.

Since 1984, one of the mainsources of green power in Canada hasbeen the 20 megawatt Annapolis TidalStation in the Bay of Fundy, which is

the second-largest tidal power facilityin the world. It has generated 30 mil-lion kWh per year since it was com-pleted in 1984, providing green powerto meet the demand of 4,000 homeson the east coast.

Biomass systems also generate elec-tricity from the combustion of wastewood products (either alone or incogeneration), while landfill gas facil-ities capture methane that escapesfrom decomposing garbage and burnit in a generating station.

Wind turbines are becoming anicon for green power around theworld, and windfarms now can gener-ate electricity at prices competitivewith conventional facilities. Wind isone of the fastest-growing source ofpower in the world, and meets theneeds of 35 million people from31,000 MW of installed capacity.Canada has strong wind resources insouthern Alberta and in Quebec'sGaspesie, with current capacity of 300MW and an industry target of 10,000MW by the end of this decade.

Solar electric modules are a prom-ising technology – costs have droppedand efficiencies have climbed since PVpanels were first used in outer space.The technology is well used in CoastGuard navigational buoys and remotetelecommunication towers. As well, anumber of sites in Canada have incor-porated solar cells into the concept ofBuilding-Integrated PhotoVoltaics toreduce power costs and associatedGHG emissions.

Coastal regions of Canada areinvestigating wave energy and tidal

flow turbines, while there are isolatedsites for the development of deep-rock geothermal electricity.

One of the drawbacks to manygreen power technologies is the lackof ability to generate on demand. Agas-fired generating station can open avalve to burn more natural gas andincrease output in periods of highdemand, but a turbine in calm windsor a solar panel at night must rely onstorage technologies such as batteries,capacitors and flywheels. A promisingoption is hydrogen, which can beelectrolyzed from water by renewableenergies in order to provide 'ondemand' dispatchability in fuel cellsand to reduce the current high level ofGHG emissions from the use ofhydrocarbons in the production ofhydrogen.

The two major sources of Canada'sgreen power both offer storage capa-bility: hydroelectric sites can storeenergy potential in reservoirs until theoutput is needed, while biomass sys-tems simply stoke more wood whenthe demand goes up.

Domestic companies can gainimmediate benefits from cost-effectivegreen power if their electricity con-sumption is off-grid (not connectedto the distribution network). Whenthe only option for power is expensiveand high-emission diesel or propane,almost any renewable energy technol-ogy looks good in comparison (espe-cially in hybrid configurations). Solarpanels are the least obtrusive technol-ogy, but the concept of on-site DG(distributed generation) has encour-

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aged companies to install small windturbines that can contribute to theload and reduce costs under time-of-day rates.

The telecommunications industryis a strong user of hybrid solar-dieselgensets, and farmers have long reliedon wind turbines to pump water forlivestock and aeration systems. Solar-powered traffic signs have replacednoisy diesel generators along high-ways, while the ability to streamlinean environmental assessment makesPV a clear-cut winner for lighting inparks and at other remote sites. In theresidential sector, solar panels are usedfor security alarms and lawn lights,among other applications.

Most companies do not operate offthe grid, so the cost benefits ofinstalling green power facilities for anindividual site may not be as powerful.That's where green power procure-ment comes in.

As mentioned earlier, wind is theleading new source of generation forutility transmission, and costs drop asthe size of the turbine increases. Byconnecting a windfarm to the grid,these turbines can provide power atclose to the blended price of othersources such as natural gas, oil, coal,nuclear and hydro.

A 'green tag' is an arrangementunder which a consumer can purchasegreen power (usually at a premium)

from a qualified renewable energyfacility, such as a windfarm or smallhydro station. The owner of the tur-bine is allowed to sell only as manygreen tags as the facility generates, andsells the output directly into the gridfor sale by the local utility. In this way,the actual 'green electron' can be con-sumed by anyone connected to thegrid, but the credit for that electron(and the cost premium) goes to theturbine owner as an incentive toinstall more green power capacity.

The arrangement relies on a cleardefinition of renewable energy (whichCanada does not yet have) and a clearunderstanding of what is eligible as asource (some jurisdictions includelandfill gas and large hydro reservoirs).There is some lack of consistency inthe certification of generation andtransmission options for green powerin Canada; for example, the canadianassociation for renewable energieslocated its internet server in Calgaryin order to take advantage of theEcoLogo-certified generation of windpower from VisionQuest turbines andthe EcoLogo-certified transmission ofthat power through the utility's'GreenMax' program. In this way,c.a.r.e. is assured that the premium itpays for green power (and its clientswho host their domains on thatserver) is directly contribut-ing to the growth of

renewable energy capacity in Canada.The issue of green tags will

become increasingly important asmeasures are implemented around theworld to allow carbon emission trad-ing credits. Under most schemes, anew windfarm that displaces GHGemissions will receive financial creditfor that displacement, and the creditcan be sold to a company that is lessable to reduce its own emissions. Anexample would be the purchase in2000 by TransAlta of 21,000 tonnes ofGHG emission reductions from theHEW utility in Germany, whichallows the Alberta company to claimthat it has reduced its emissions.

Electricity is an important com-modity and a major source of GHGemissions in Canada, but companiescan obtain green power at reasonablecost levels for both off-grid and on-grid consumption.

A number of systems, both fordomestic and for international trades,are being developed under the CleanDevelopment Mechanism (CDM/JI)of the Kyoto Protocol and are likely to offer a range of alternatives toCanadian companies in the future.

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Despite the trend to-wards electrification inCanada, space condi-tioning is a more impor-tant application than

electricity in most commercial environ-ments.

Every building requires heating orcooling for considerable periods of theyear and this demand can be met by oneof four renewable energy technologies,referred to as 'green heat' options.Thesetechnologies can also heat water, whichis another energy application at manysites, ranging from car washes and laun-dries, to the simple supply of hot waterin washrooms.

Two-thirds of commercial energy inCanada is consumed in low-grade ther-mal applications that Green Heatoptions can handle. In residential appli-cations, this level rises to 80 per cent,with the balance required for plug load(electricity) consumption.

While GreenHeat options often arenot capable of providing the high tem-peratures and large quantities required inmost industrial processes (such as steelmills), the technologies can be cost-effective in pre-heating configurationsand this market is expanding in Canada.

The four technologies identified bythe federal government as renewableenergy space conditioning optionsinclude earth energy, solar thermalwater, solar thermal air and advancedbiomass systems. In almost all applica-tions, these systems can provide heating(or cooling) at a lower cost per unit thanconventional fossil fuels or electricalsupply, and offer higher reductions ofgreenhouse gas emissions as a result.

Earth EnergyEarth energy goes by a number of

terms, including ground-source heatpump, geothermal heat pump orGeoExchange systems. The technology

uses buried outdoor pipes to transfersolar heat from the ground into a build-ing's interior, where it is converted intowarm air or hot water through the useof a compressor. This heat is circulatedthrough air ducts or in radiant waterpanels, or used to heat water for potableor service use.

Earth energy is the only GreenHeattechnology that can meet 100 per centof a building's cooling load, which itdoes by reversing the direction of theheat pump in order to transfer buildingheat outside, where it is rejected to theground via the same loop. A properdesign can internally balance the heatpumps, to minimize the amount of looprequired.

The technology works best in newconstruction, where the design is opti-mally matched to the building load pro-file and when it is easier to install theoutdoor loop due to on-site construc-tion equipment. An open loop design

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Applications of Heat

Canada’s newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of

Technology, pictured here, will reduce costs by using earth energy.

The project is the largest of its kind to date in Canada

(see sidebar, page 21)Illustration courtesy of Diamond Schmidt Architects

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 320

can tap into underground aquifers ortransfer latent heat from lakes and rivers,while closed loops can be buried almostanywhere on the property in a horizon-tal layout or (if the footprint is limited)in vertical boreholes. A major factor isthe conductivity of the soil (ie: how wellit can transfer heat out of the groundand into the pipe), and both the designand installation of systems are covered bythe CSA C448 national standard.

The technology was rated tops forspace conditioning options in a 1993

analysis by the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, and Canadian reportsin 1999 confirmed that the technologyoffers both the best GHG mitigationand the lowest lifecycle cost in almost allsites, in new and retrofit construction.

In addition to significant cost savingsand environmental benefits, earth energyenhances indoor air quality and mini-mizes building penetrations, whilereducing outdoor wear on components,eliminating vandalism and removing anypotential for explosion from combustion

fuels.The use of the ground for energystorage means that heating (or cooling)is available on demand at any time of theday throughout the year.

Solar Thermal WaterOne of the earliest renewable energy

technologies to be developed followingthe oil embargo 30 years ago, were solarcollectors that can heat water for radiantfloors, potable consumption, swimmingpools or diverse service applications.Unglazed and seasonal collectors are

Beatty & Associates have recently designed a BTES sys-tem that will be used to heat and cool the new cam-pus buildings at the University of Ontario Institute of

Technology (UOIT) in Oshawa, Ontario. This is Canada'slargest thermal energy storage project to date. It is modelledafter large BTES systems that have been successfully devel-oped in Europe and the USA over the last ten years.

The UOIT project involves the installation of nearly 400boreholes that are drilled 190 m into the limestone bedrockbeneath the campus. Each borehole is lined with a steel cas-ing in the surficial 57 m of overburden and shale. The bot-tom 133 m of each borehole is uncased in the limestone for-mation. A high density polyethylene U-tube is installed ineach borhole in order to create a heat exchanger.The ther-mal energy is transferred to the earth by pumping water

through more than 140 km of plastic tubing in the boreholefield.

Contracters involved in the project include: Architechts,Diamond Schmidt Inc.;Architects, Beatty and Associates Inc.;Installers, Groundheat Systems Inc.; and Engineers, KeenEngineering Inc.

commonly used for outdoor pools andsummer camps, while flat plate collec-tors are installed on south-facing roofs tohandle domestic hot water needs orcommercial applications such as dairyfarms, laundries and car washes.Evacuated tube collectors are a premiumsystem that can absorb sufficient heat inArctic regions or to boost the tempera-ture of water to the boiling point.

Even in winter, collectors in Canadacan absorb sufficient solar energy to pro-

vide a solid payback on their cost, andthe size of storage can be matched to theload.

Solar Thermal AirA technology that was developed in

Canada and has become a favouritearound the world is the use of dark-colour panels, placed on south-facingwalls of commercial and industrialbuildings. These 'SolarWall' panels drawcold outside air through numerous per-

forations on the panels, where it is heat-ed by the sun as it rises and then dis-charged into the factory and destratifiedas a pre-heat supply.The largest installa-tion in the world is the 10,000 m2 ofpanels on the Bombardier factory inMontreal, while other clients range fromthe Ford Motor plant near Toronto toschools above the Arctic Circle.

A major market for the technology iscrop drying and military bases in theUnited States and the units can improve

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 3 21

Underground Thermal Energy Storage System atthe University of Ontario Institute of Technology

One of the earliest renewable energy technologiesto be developed following the oil embargo 30 years

ago, were solar collectors that can heat water forradiant floors, potable consumption, swimming

pools or diverse service applications.

One of the earliest renewable energy technologiesto be developed following the oil embargo 30 years

ago, were solar collectors that can heat water forradiant floors, potable consumption, swimming

pools or diverse service applications.

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 322

indoor air quality and provide summercooling, while also reducing mainte-nance costs on exterior walls.

Advanced BiomassThe best known renewable energy is

the wood stove and this technology pro-

vides a significant portion of Canada'scurrent renewable energy in the com-mercial sector.The forest industry com-busts large amounts of wood chips andsawdust at pulp mills, which is used forthermal heat or for electrical genera-tion.

The potential of this application is significant if there is a locally-available feedstock (especially if thematerial has to be removed) but isconsidered to be a renewable energytechnology only if the combustionchamber is efficient and if the feed-stock is sustainable.

There is growing attention given tothe use of low-grade thermal energy fornumerous applications in Canada (andaround the world), and this appreciationwill increase the potential forGreenHeat options in the commercialsector for its cost and environmentalbenefits.

EVEN IN WINTER, collectors in Canada can absorb sufficient solar energy to provide a SOLID PAYBACK

It may have been around for yearsbut the ethanol industry is nowreally taking off – for instance, bythe spring of 2005 all gasolinesold in Saskatchewan will have to

contain 7.5 per cent ethanol! And, thisrenewable fuel, produced from biomass,is replacing up to 10 per cent of fossilfuels used in transportation throughoutthe country.

Ethanol can be produced by the fer-mentation of plant sugars directly or bythe conversion of starch or cellulose tosugars prior to fermentation. Whateverthe source of biomass, it consumes asmuch carbon dioxide from the atmos-phere while it’s growing, as it replaceswhen it’s burned. It is thus not only arenewable energy source, but also a sus-tainable one. And, by the fall of 2005 -85 per cent of all gasoline sold inManitoba will have to contain 10 percent ethanol. By the year2010 - 35 percent of

all gasoline sold in Canada will be haveit as well. And, the United States is alsoin the process of doubling the amount ofethanol blended with gasoline from thecurrent eleven billion litres to twenty-two litres per year.

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) costs moreand produces only half the energyof gasoline. Even so, a blend ofup to 10 per cent ethanol withgasoline improves the com-bustion enough to compen-sate for the lower energyvalue. The 10 per centblend also has ahigher octane rat-

ing than regular gasoline. However, atethanol concentrations higher than this,fuel consumption begins to increase andautomobile manufacturers will voidwarranties on their vehicles. So, for now at least, the maximum practical

Applications ofTransportation

Gasoline Going Green

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 324

concentration of ethanol is 10 per cent.The incentive for producing gasohol

in the United States began with a criti-cal need to reduce atmospheric pollu-tion in American cities. In 1990 the U.S.government introduced legislationrequiring the addition of “oxygenates”into gasoline to improve burning char-acteristics in automobile engines and inturn reduce harmful emissions. Since themost practical oxygenate is ethanol,which can be produced very easily fromcorn, the U.S. agricultural industry wel-comed the legislation with enthusiasm.In Minnesota alone, there are now four-teen plants producing ethanol for blend-ing with gasoline.

More recent (2003) action by theU.S. Congress to double the oxygenaterequirement and hence double the vol-ume of alcohol blended with gasoline(from 11 billion litres to 22 billion litresper year), may have originated withenvironmental concerns but pressurefrom the agricultural lobby and possiblya desire to reduce dependence on

imported oil may also have played a part.Whatever the motive, the net result isthe same. There will be eleven billionlitres less gasoline burned in the U.S.than would otherwise have been thecase – and about thirty million tonnesless carbon dioxide emitted into theatmosphere every year!

In Canada, environmental concernsare also the driving force behind theincrease in the use of gasohol. Certainlythis is true in Manitoba andSaskatchewan where gasoline/ethanolblends are being mandated. But whatbegan as a desire to reduce the con-sumption of fossil fuels has been rein-forced by the fact that in Manitoba, forexample, it has been found that oncefeasibility studies had been completedand in spite of subsidies for the use ofethanol in gasoline, the province wouldactually experience a net economic ben-efit. Manitoba imports gasoline costing$430 million per year – that’s $430 mil-lion leaving the province! Replacing 10per cent of this with locally produced

ethanol would result in a net benefit tothe economy of Manitoba of about $30million. (More than 70 per cent of thecost of producing ethanol is spent with-in 150 km of the plant site.)

There is, of course, nothing newabout the production of ethanol frombiomass. It has been going on for at leastthree thousand years, first as wine fromthe fermentation of the sugar in grapes,then mead from the fermentation ofhoney and then beer from the starch ofbarley. More recently the sugar andstarch products of many, many agricul-tural products have been used in a vari-ety of ways for the production of wines,beers and distilled products.

Fuel ethanol from the fermentation ofcane sugar has been produced for years inBrazil where the motivation came from aneed to improve the country’s balance oftrade by reducing consumption ofimported oil. Even so, in most areas nat-urally occurring sugars are too expensive

Recent action by the US Congress means there will be eleven billion litres less gasoline burned and

about thirty million tonnes less carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere every year!

Continued on page 27

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 3 25

Reducing pollutants isthe aim of the Montrealtransit system. And,they may have achievedthat goal according to a

recently completed study done in thecity. This years research project lookedinto the use of a blend of vegetable oilsor animal fats in the diesel fuel used in155 of the city’s transit buses.

Apart from the net reduction in theemission of carbon dioxide inherent inthe replacement of a fossil fuel with anatural product, the study found that theblend worked well in cold climates andhad better lubricating properties. Thismeans it will be more likely to reduceengine wear and increase the life of theengine. Other pollutants, such as nitrousoxides and carbon monoxide, whichhave a noticeable effect on urban atmos-pheric environments, were also reduced.

The transit system used 550,000Litres of biodiesel fuel during the courseof the study. Twenty four per cent basedon vegetable oil, 28 per cent on animalfat and 48 per cent on used cooking oilin 5 per cent and 20 per cent blends.

To be suitable for blending withdiesel fuel natural oils and fats areprocessed, using methane, into methylesters and glycerin. The methyl estersbecome the biodiesel used in blendingwith regular diesel oil. Glycerin is avaluable bi-product with many foodapplications.

The use of biodiesel is not new - it isused extensively in Europe, especially inFrance. The encouraging result of theMontreal study is that the blend can beused satisfactorily in winter conditionsin Canada, hopefully making this dis-covery applicable in cities across thecountry.

Green Metro in Montréal

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 326

Hydrogen produced by theelectrolysis of water usinghydro-electric power, then

turned back into electricity by com-bining the hydrogen with oxygen fromthe atmosphere in a fuel cell, createsonly two products – electricity andwater. The electricity from the fuel cellcan be used to power an electric motordriven automobile.The water – a verypure water – is discharged to theatmosphere.

Unfortunately, the fuel cell is notyet ready for production but hydrogencan be burned directly in an internalcombustion engine. Proponents ofhydrogen-fuelled vehicles often claimthat the results would be the same.Not so. Burning hydrogen in air at thehigh temperatures in an internal com-bustion engine results in the combina-tion of atmospheric nitrogen withoxygen, producing toxic nitrousoxides.The engine exhaust is not near-

ly as polluting as a gasoline poweredengine but it is not squeaky clean.

The benefits of hydrogen fuel areeven less if the hydrogen is producedby electrolysis using power from a coalfired generating station producing itsown pollutants. These pollutants maybe a long way from the city in whichthe automobile is being used – citypollution may be less but overall thesituation is only marginally better.

The same can be said of hydrogenproduced from fossil fuels. Stripping

hydrogen from fossil fuels leaves car-bon dioxide as a bi-product. Certainlyan improvement over the emissions ofa coal fired generating station but stillnot squeaky clean.

It seems that the real revolution inrenewable energy for transportationawaits the introduction of the fuel cell.Jurisdictions with undeveloped hydro-electric power will find their resourceextremely valuable.

For more information on hydrogenplease visit www.re-hydrogen.com

Hydrogen - a clean fuel alternative

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 3

to provide a practical feedstock for fuelalcohol. In the United States almost allfuel ethanol is produced from corn starchconverted to sugar by enzymatic hydrol-ysis. Corn is the lowest cost feedstock atpresent but it may soon be facing com-petition from straw and wood.

In Manitoba, feed grain is already thefeedstock for a small fuel ethanol plantin Minnedosa. And, since the mandateto blend ethanol with gasoline inManitoba and Saskatchewan, the inten-tion is that this initiative will continue tobe expanded. The attraction of graindestined for animal feed as a feedstockfor fuel ethanol is that only the starch

component of the grain is used in theproduction.The protein (gluten) remainsuntouched and, along with the proteinfrom the yeast used in fermentation,becomes a by-product known as dis-tillers dried grain.This is a useful, proteinenriched animal feed. Thus, the use offeed grain to produce ethanol actuallyenhances the food value of the grain.However its use on the prairies may alsoface competition from straw or wood.

There have been numerous attemptsto develop a viable ethanol productiontechnology using the cellulose in strawor wood. All of them involve convertingthe cellulose to sugar before fermenta-

tion – either by hydrolysis with a diluteacid (usually dilute sulphuric acidbecause of its low cost) or by the use ofenzyme hydrolysis. When wood (orwaste wood products) is used as a feed-stock some method of separating thelignin from the cellulose is needed.

The Iogen Corporation of Ottawaappears to be very close to having devel-oped a viable method of producingethanol from wheat straw or corn stover.The company has a demonstration plantin Ottawa which has recently doubledits processing of wheat straw from 25 to50 tonnes per week and will be produc-ing 700,000 litres of ethanol per year.

27

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 3

Their process uses a naturally occurringenzyme found in fungi to convert thewheat straw cellulose to a fermentablesugar.The potential of the technology isperhaps best demonstrated by the factthat Shell has invested $29 million U.S.in the process.

Ever since the energy crisis of theearly seventies there has been an intenseeffort to develop an economic methodof producing ethanol from wood. Mostof them rely on either steam or acid (ora combination of both) to separate thecellulose from the lignin, followed bythe conversion of the cellulose to a fer-mentable sugar.The advantage of woodas a feedstock is that waste wood prod-ucts are in plentiful supply and that treeswill grow prolifically on otherwise mar-ginal land.There are hybrid poplars, forexample, which will grow forty feet inten years.A four-hectare (ten acre) plan-tation of this would produce a thousandlitres of ethanol every year, year in andyear out. A thousand square kilometers,roughly two hundred square miles, could

produce all the ethanol needed to satisfyManitoba’s mandated gasohol need for120,000 litres per year on an on-goingsustainable basis.

All the above biomass-to-ethanolprocesses rely on the fermentation ofsugar to ethanol. In all cases, any ligninbecomes a waste product with virtuallyno market. An alternative technology,which gasifies all of the wood and thenrecombines these gases into ethanol, isunder intensive investigation. Theadvantages of being able to convert thecarbon in the lignin (up to 50 per centof wood), as well as the cellulose into anautomobile fuel are obvious.

It is interesting to note the impact of research dollars on technology.According to the federal government’sEnergy Technology Centre, in 1974 thecost of producing a litre of ethanolfrom wood was $2.50. Without theimpact of the energy crisis and environ-mental concerns it would have stayedthere – obviously expensive. Butresearch continued and now the cost is

about 30¢ - 35¢ per litre. The EnergyTechnology Centre expects it to dropto $0.22 per litre within ten years.Iogen’s enzymatic process is an exampleof a breakthrough that can result fromintensive research. Another is the yeastused in fermentation.Yeast used for theproduction of alcohol for human con-sumption dies at a concentration ofabout 14 per cent and concentrations inexcess of 10 per cent are not practical.The result is that about ten litres ofwater have to be evaporated for everylitre of fuel ethanol produced.Today, forfuel use, yeasts have been found whichproduce concentrations in excess of 20per cent, which halves the amount ofwater to be evaporated thus having adramatic impact on one of the majorcosts of production.

There seems to be little doubt thatthere will be a major replacement ofgasoline with ethanol over the next fewyears. Whatever the impact, the air inour major cities will certainly behealthier!

28

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 3 29

The North

The wind that blows inno-cently across the north-ern tundra could eventu-ally provide thousands ofresidents in the Yukon,

Northwest Territories and Nunavutwith energy. This is great news for thepeople who live there. Many people inisolated northern communities aren’t onthe standard energy grid so they have torely on alternative means. This is wherewind energy comes to play.

Conventional forms of energy such asnatural gas and oil are often expensiveand difficult to get to the north. Wind,on the other hand, is readily available.While there aren’t a lot of wind genera-tors in the north, there are countlessfunding programs available to make useof this and other natural resources. Oneof these is the Renewable EnergyTechnology Conversion AssistanceProgram. This initiative will contributehalf (up to $7,500) for investments inrenewable energy that do not haveanother form of financial backing. Itfocuses on market ready renewable ener-gy technology and the facility must beinstalled in the North West Territories.

Currently, the territory of Nunavutrelies heavily on oil. They are lookinginto other sources of energy though. InDecember they put out a request forproposals to several different corpora-tions. Territory leaders are hoping thatthese companies will be able to providewind generation technology to theNorth.

With more than a thousand lakes and

rivers, hydro generated power is anothercentral source for green energy in theNorth. Waterways in the Yukon have

been generating hydropower since 1906and still continue to pump out power.New hydro developments go through

Regional PerspectivesA region-by-region look at renewable energy in Canada

vigorous screening and have to commit to numerous environ-mental standards. In Dawson City, work has began on theMayo-Dawson City Transmission System. It will make greateruse of the existing hydro station and reduce local pollution andgreenhouse gas emissions by 10,000 tonnes per year.

British Columbia

When it comes to sunshine, rivers and lush greengrass, British Columbia reigns supreme.Protecting these natural wonders is one reason

why the province looks to renewable sources to provide resi-dents with energy.

One of the most successful ways to generate green energyhas been by using pulp and paper mills. Wood chip waste andother plant materials are being converted into 600 MW ofuseable energy per year. In the past, waste was burned in land-fills and beehive hummers (large conical shells made of stealwith an opening in the top to burn waste) but now, thanks tobio mass technology, this garbage is being put to good use.

Earth energy is also being widely used across the province.In Richmond, a 14,000 meter squared secondary school isbeing heated using this alternate energy form. As well, seven-ty-eight condos on the lower mainland in Vancouver are beingheated and cooled by energy in the earth’s core. Boreholes,some deeper than 94 metres, were drilled into the earth. These

will provide heat for 7,620 m2 of office space, 12,193 m2 ofretail space as well as hot water for the condo units.

The abundance of lakes and rivers in British Columbia areperfect to generate hydropower. Small and micro hydroelec-tric developments (producing less than two MW annually)offer significant potential for producing power. BC Hydro hassigned electricity purchase agreements for twenty small hydroprojects to be completed. They will be built, owned and oper-ated by independent power producers.

Near Castlegar, $204 million is being invested intoexpanding the Brilliant Power Plant. The first dam was orig-inally built in the 1940s and the second one being built willproduce an additional 120-MW of power – enough to supply38,000 homes for one year. This project will increase BritishColumbia’s renewable energy supply while lowering emis-sions by approximately 450,000 tonnes of carbon dioxideeach year.

Alberta

Alberta’s sprawling prairie land hosts some of thewindiest conditions in Canada. This means that if itcontinues to be developed, wind energy from this

province will have the ability to make a real impact on thepower supply across Canada.

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 330

“It’s not just a hippy thing any-more,” says Vern Sherwood,owner of Excess Energy Inc. andDial-a-Battery. He’s watched therenewable energy industry growfrom being a novelty item to arealistic and practical way formodern homes and businessesto generate energy.

Sherwood has been in thebusiness of off grid energy forover six years. He started byhelping customers choose theright batteries to power theirhomes and learnt the industryfrom there. And, in 1985 he soldhis very first solar panel.

Now, Sherwood and hisemployees provide solar andwind energy for anyone who isinterested. “It ranges quite abit,” he says. “We’ve installedsystems into cottages and offgrid homes to huge houses andeven supplied the equipment toan installer at Queens Universityin Ottawa. The business is goingfull blast because people wantto keep their creature comfortsand not pollute in the process.Not to mention wind and solarenergy can power refrigerators,water pumps, furnaces –absolutely anything in yourhome!”

And, says Sherwood, renew-able energies are feasible foreveryone, including home andbusiness owners. He says thesooner they get into it, the soon-er it’s going to pay off, not onlyfor the environment but for theirwallets as well. Moreover, usingnet metering, the process bywhich the solar electricity that aconsumer generates in theirhome is sent back through their

electric meter and into the utilityelectric power grid, their excesssolar energy can actually pay off.

And the best par t, saysSherwood: “You have controlover something you desperatelyneed… energy! It’s prettyremarkable to be able to pro-

duce your own energy. And,whether you need to power yourtelevision, watch a DVD orcharge your cell phone, it can all be done – without a lot of trouble and without leaving a damaging mark on the environment.”

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There are lots of wind projects already in existence andmany in the beginning stages. In May, Suncor Energy Inc.announced they’re seeking approval from the Alberta Energyand Utilities Board to construct a 30-megawatt wind projectin southern Alberta. The estimated price tag for this is $48million. As well, a 20-turbine facility is in the initial stages ofbeing tested. The plan is to make sure that wind power intothe provincial electricity grid generates enough power forabout 13,000 homes each year.

Construction is underway at the McBride Lake Project insouthern Alberta. Enmax Corporation and Vision QuestWindelectric are building a $100 million wind farm. With 114turbines, this project will generate 75 MW of energy. Locatednear Fort Macleod, this Project is receiving $2.3 million annu-ally for ten years from federal programs.

Along with Saskatchewan projects, wind secured across theprairie is expected to provide Canada with 15 per cent of itstotal installed wind electricity. This would ensure about115,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions would be elimi-nated from Canada’s air each year.

Saskatchewan

Blowing across the wide-open prairies is an energy thatcan power televisions, computers and light bulbs. It isthe power of wind and already Saskatchewan is har-

nessing this resource, becoming a national leader in alternativeenergy.

Saskatchewan is the third largest generator of wind powerin Canada, producing 17.1 MW of energy per year. And, ifSaskPower International succeeds, this windy province willboost that number to 150 MW. That’s enough to power64,000 homes annually! In May, they put out a request forprivate sector parties who are interested in entering a jointagreement to develop wind generation. Responses had to bein by June and if everything goes according to plan, a newwind power system will be operational by 2007.

Three hundred kilometres west of Regina is the CypressWind Power Facility. Opened in June 2002, this power plant

consists of 17 wind turbines that reduce carbon dioxide emis-sions by 32,000 tonnes annually. A $2.6 million agreementwith the province means the government can lower the priceof green power by 25 per cent. This lower price will make itmore affordable for the residential, farm and business cus-tomers who buy it.

Manitoba

Manitoba has it all – wind, solar, hydro and earthenergy. This combination allows this province tohave the lowest electricity rates in North

America.This past March the first wind monitoring facility was

unveiled near Minnedosa. It will gather specific informationabout wind conditions in the province. This will help locatethe best potential sites for wind turbines across the province.Officials are hoping that wind energy will complement thecurrent hydroelectric system, especially in low water years.

While not widely used, solar power is a good alternativesource of energy for sunny Manitoba. Direct solar radiation isequal to almost 2 billion terajoules of energy per year. If oneper cent of this was converted to electricity, the amount ofenergy used would be 200 times the annual output of allhydroelectric dams in Manitoba.

Hydro energy serves 399,000 customers across thisprovince. Hydro dams on the Nelson, Winnipeg andSaskatchewan rivers provide Manitobans with 95 per cent oftheir electricity needs. Now Ontario and Manitoba are takingsteps to develop an east west grid by jointly supporting a fea-sibility study on the transmission of clean energy fromManitoba to Ontario. This would increase Ontario’s supply ofhydropower and enhance Manitoba’s green power economy.

Earth energy is also taking a leading role in the province.At Swan Lake First Nations School, energy from the earth’score heats and cools the building. Vertical wells were drilledthroughout the property for a total borehole of nearly 2,500metres. Establishments across the province are looking intosetting up similar heating and cooling systems.

Ontario

Providing enough energy for more than 12 million con-sumers is no small feat. This is why Ontario is takinginnovative measures that will ensure the people of this

province will have plenty of it in their future.Fresh ideas are springing up all over the province. In

Toronto, the city’s first solar air-heating system was set up atthe Central Maintenance Garage. Using a Solarwall – a wallof dark coloured metal heated by the suns radiation – this sys-tem is going to reduce greenhouse emissions and save anexpected $39,000 each year. Earth energy is also being usedthroughout the city. Downtown, an office building almost3,000 m2 is being heated by a borefield under the company.This system provides 1,415 l/s of fresh air to the building.

Another idea breezing into Ontario is wind energy. Thispast March, the government implemented strict standards foremissions released into the air and energy generated by windwill help achieve that level. Currently there are plans to builda wind park west of Sault Ste. Marie. If wind conditions arefavourable, construction should begin in 2004 and the site willhouse approximately 57 turbines. Many other municipalitiesare exploring the economic, social and environmental oppor-tunities for wind energy. As of February 2003, Ontario had14.6 mega-watts of commercial sale wind capacity. Nationally,

it is a multi-million dollar industry.Another innovative proposal in Ontario is utilizing wood

residue from an existing flooring operation. Announced onMay 20, 2003, the project will develop 2.5 mega-watts ofelectric energy that will be exported into Ontario’s grid sys-tem. The wood residue is converted into fuel known asBioOil, which is renewable and environmentally friendly.

Delivering 375 mega-watts of new renewable energy intoOntario’s current system is expected to result in $3.5 millionannually in new resource royalties to the crown and an annu-al capital investment of between $675 and $750 million.

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 3 35

Quebec

Hydroelectricity and Quebec go hand in hand. This isno surprise considering Hydro-Quebec is the largestgenerator of electricity in North America. Even so,

the province is looking into utilizing more renewable energysources.

Recently the Minister of Energy, Rita Dionne-Marsolaisset a goal to obtain 1000 MW of wind-generated electricityover the next ten years. One way Quebec has strived toachieve this target is by releasing a request for proposals thatwill entice companies to set up wind energy projects. The callfor tenders is for 1,200 MW of firm capacity on an annualbasis. The electricity must be generated by a Quebec basedpower station where at least 75 per cent of the input is frombiomass. And, because wind is not affected by fluctuatingcommodity prices it’s very dependable.

The Canadian population spends $75 million per year toheat and cool their homes and workplaces and provide energyfor vehicles. Using green energy can reduce this lofty cost.One example is in Laval at the Hydro-Quebec Centre. Newto the building is the use of earth energy to heat almost 13,000square meters of office and industrial space. The savingsamount to $25,000 in energy saving costs per year and theamount of carbon released into the atmosphere is reduced by100 tonnes a year.

Atlantic Canada

Throughout the Maritimes wind energy is breezingonto the power grids. It has the ability to powerhomes throughout Nova Scotia, Prince Edward

Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.A major development in Nova Scotia is that the province

recently wrote lease rules for wind. This crown policy leases

land to wind developers on a first come, first serve basis for aminimum of 20 years. Many towns in Nova Scotia want windturbines and testing is going on across the province to checkits feasibility. However, construction on the first two wind tur-bines has just been completed. The first is a 600 kilowattTurbowinds machine in the southwest. It was connected tothe grid last September. Three weeks later the second 660kilowatt turbine, located in the northwest part of the province,was also connected.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince EdwardIsland have the windiest conditions in Canada. This makesthese Maritime Provinces suitable for many more wind farmsthan are currently in operation. Right now, consultations arebeing held across the province as to the benefits of a wind farmin Malpeque. With plans for approximately 40 turbines, thisenergy source is leading to much debate. Since the govern-ment of P.E.I agreed to spend $4.5 million over 10 years topurchase wind power, a turbine in Malpeque will help thegovernment keep that commitment.

Other sources of green energy are popping up in AtlanticCanada. In New Brunswick, biomass accounts for 15 per centof the total primary energy demand in the province. Thisincludes 589,000 tonnes of round wood used for heating inthe residential sector, 18,000 tonnes of wood residue used forheating hospitals and 2.5 million tonnes of wood residue andspent pulping liquor used for process heat in the pulp andpaper industry.

Newfoundland and Labrador have been using hydropowerfor years. Recently $135 million was spent on the existingGranite Canal Project. Currently, it produces 40 MW ofpower annually. As well, two non-utility hydro generatingsources are being constructed through power contracts withCorner Brook Pulp and Paper, and Abitibi. These will add upto an extra 450 GWh per year.

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Sustainable Communities National Conference & Trade ShowFederation of Canadian Municipalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Sustainable Energy SolutionsMatrix Energy Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Water Pumping Systems / Billboard Signs Excess Energy Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Wind EnergyG.E. Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Wind EnergyPower-Pacific Poles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC

Wind Energy ConsultantHelimax Energy Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Wind Resource AssesmentHelimax Energy Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Wind TechnolgoyVestas - Canadian Wind Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC

Wind Turbines, Solar Panels, Remote EnergiesExcess Energy Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Windfarm DesignJones Group Engineering Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

O P T I O N S 2 0 0 338

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