SUMMERSIDE - Results of an $80,000 study into the feasibility of setting up a biomass alternative energy operation for Summerside should soon be available.
Terry Murphy, the city's chief administrative officer, said the study, which is being cost-shared by the federal and provincial governments, is expected to be in the hands of civic officials "within the month."
The city's share will be just over $26,600.
Murphy said the city will be doing a study of the needs of the heating loads within the Summerside area to determine if there is an opportunity to put in an operation to generate heat, cooling and electricity.
This could be used to feed the commercial areas on the heating and cooling side within the city. In terms of electricty, it would be brought in to use as base-load electricity at the city's electrical plant.
Murphy said although present plans are confined to commercial areas, the city will be looking into extending this new energy source into residential areas.
"That's what we're really trying to define," he said. "What opportunities are out there to do that."
Murphy said there are two different products the city is looking at to fuel the process. One is from the forestry industry and the other is from the agriculture industry.
During a recent trip to Ireland, the city saw a process where a crop of willow was grown. It was cut every two years and used in cogeneration.
"Here we have grains and there's been quite a bit of work done by the provincial department of agriculture in terms of this."
Where this new biomass generation plant will be located has yet to be determined.
"We really just want to determine the loads and once you've defined the loads you can determine how far you can retransfer the product."
Study on alternative energy potential at hand
- Published on June 23rd, 2009
- Published on June 21st, 2010
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Mike Carson
SUMMERSIDE - Results of an $80,000 study into the feasibility of setting up a biomass alternative energy operation for Summerside should soon be available.
Terry Murphy, the city's chief administrative officer, said the study, which is being cost-shared by the federal and provincial governments, is expected to be in the hands of civic officials "within the month."
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- more obvious
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:08:47
Mr. Obvious,
Although your idea suggests a possible solution, understand that sewage contains too many chemicals from everyone flushing household and industrial cleaners and perscriptions down the pipe, that the resulting methane is miniscule at best. -
- mr
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:44
Why wouldn't the city use sewage to produce methane to run the electric generator and produce heat. It just seems like an obvious place to start. They are already paying to get rid of the waste so why not get some benefit from it first. I'm sure Cavendish Farms would give the Mr Murphy a tour of their plant.
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- Ed
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:05:55
That's a great idea too. And dont forget about the tonnes of rotting seaweed washing up on our shore presently being stored at the old town dump on Seaweed Road. This site would make a great location for such a venture. With the potential for a wetland sanctuary and a state of the art pollution treatment plant in the same area this could be promoted
as a man harmonizing with nature theme
within the city. Not too many other places could brag about this possibilty.
