Quesnel Moves Forward on Community Energy System
By 250 News
Thursday, July 08, 2010 09:45 AM
Quesnel, B.C.- The City of Quesnel has taken a significant step forward on its plan for a community energy system. It has signed a letter of intent with Terasen Gas to conduct the final feasibility work on the project.
The project would see a combined heat and power system that will use waste heat and left-over residues from milling at West Fraser’s Quesnel sawmill to generate both heat and electricity.
“The City is excited about this innovative and sustainable energy project,” said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. “The project would not be moving forward without Terasen’s critical technical and financing role, or without West Fraser’s strong cooperation. We look forward to forging a strong and lasting relationship around this project.”
The initial capital cost of the QCES is estimated at $14 million. The City of Quesnel, secured grant funding of $4.13 million through B.C.’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund, with Terasen Gas funding the balance.
Under the proposed agreement, the City of Quesnel, Terasen Gas and West Fraser will each participate in the project which would see the Quesnel Community Energy System (QCES ) purchase excess heat from West Fraser, and BC Hydro purchase the electricity generated under an Electricity Purchase Agreement.
The system is expected to provide 5.5 megawatts (MW) of heat to numerous industrial, municipal,commercial or multi-family residential buildings in Quesnel. It will also produce up to 1.7 MW of electricity, which is proposed for purchase by BC Hydro for re-sale, providing its customers with access to a clean source of power.
The QCES will be designed to achieve more than 90 per cent energy efficiency, and each year would:
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking more than 1,000 cars off the road
• produce 81,000 gigajoules of carbon-neutral heat, enough to heat the homes of about 5,000 people
• produce 14.2 gigawatt hours of carbon-neutral electricity
The partnership will now begin detailed engineering work to finalize analysis of the economic viability of the QCES.
If given all the necessary approvals, the Quesnel Community Energy System is expected to be operational in 2012.
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Posted by: supertech on July 8 2010 5:18 PM
Why does every one and their dog have to use those totally meaningless words?
Please tell me what about that project is INNOVATIVE.
Then please tell me why it is SUSTAINABLE.
Why can it not just simply we an "energy system" and be done with it? Those words have become totally meaningless by their false use.