Township of Woolwich – Combined Heat & Power System

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

In May 2020, the Township of Woolwich, Grand River Energy (GRE) and Arcadian Projects Inc. (AP) integrated a new combined heat and power (CHP) system at the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira. The Centre is home to two (2) NHL size ice pads, two pools, a fitness centre, a walking track and a community centre.

The new CHP displaces the energy coming in from a less efficient source of central power. It reduces electricity and hot water costs for the facility and provides significant energy savings for the Centre over the CHP’s lifetime.

The driving force behind the project is a commitment of both the Township and GRE to help reduce overall greenhouse gases in Ontario through sustainable projects. Of the power going into the facility, 80% of that energy is utilized by the CHP, which acts as a co-generation system using the heat from the running engine to heat the facilities’ water system.

Though this project has been in the works for a few years, in general, sustainable projects like this take about a year to organize and execute – an advantageous timeline to start realizing energy savings. Arcadian Projects is a key player in the realization of this project.

As EPC, multi-trade contractors providing both industrial and energy solutions by their in-house trades and project teams, Arcadian completes turnkey projects for commercial, industrial, municipal, and utility clients.

A gas to wires solution, AP provided all trade services for this project, including:

  • Millwright & Rigging

  • Gas fitting and piping

  • Electrical controls

  • Electrical high voltage

Working with the Canadian representatives from 2G Energy Corp – the German-based company that manufactures this CHP – the 24,000 lbs unit was shipped from Germany and assembled and installed on-site by Arcadian.

By integrating the CHP into the Memorial Centres’ mechanical system, the Township of Woolwich has, and will continue to experience significant benefits with minimal risk that has helped drive the project forward, such as:

  • No capital injection was required on the Township’s part.

  • The Township is contributing to reducing the Province’s overall greenhouse gases.

  • The project provides significant energy savings to the Township and overall operating cost reduction.

  • The Township benefits from the construction expertise of GRE and Arcadian Projects.

The move is expected to save the township about $90,000 a year in energy and maintenance costs, which is about 22.5 percent less than the current cost to provide heat and power to the facility.

CHP

Location:
Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira

Project Ownership:
Grand River Energy in partnership with the Township of Woolwich

“We’re trying to be good environmental stewards. The new system should reduce the township’s carbon dioxide output by 189 tonnes, equivalent to taking 41 cars off the road. The project also got a $255,000 federal grant for clean energy projects. “That’s pretty substantial for a small municipality,” she said.”

Ann McArthur
Director of Facilities | Woolwich Township