New plants convert waste pipeline heat into clean power

Pristine Power Inc. and ENMAX Green Power Inc. announced that commercial operations have started at their jointly owned Enpower 5 MW Energy Recovery Generation (ERG) project in British Columbia under the terms of a 20-year electricity purchase agreement with BC Hydro.

The plant, located in Savona, about 45 km west of Kamloops, generates electricity from the waste heat created by existing gas compressors on Spectra Energy's main natural gas pipeline. The ERG process captures waste heat and converts it to pressured vapour to drive a vapour turbine generator. ERG uses proven technologies and similar systems are used on other pipeline compressors and in geothermal applications around the world.

The Savona project is one of two Enpower ERG 5 MW projects in the province. The other 5 MW project, located on the same pipeline at 150 Mile House, 270 km north of Kamloops, is expected to begin operating later this month.

Together the two projects will produce 10 MW of clean electricity, enough to power approximately 10,000 homes a year. They will also offset greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 25,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to removing 9,000 cars from our roads.

"The Savona Enpower ERG project represents the first megawatt generated by Pristine and Enpower for commercial sale, and demonstrates our ability to deliver projects on time and on budget," said Pristine Power's President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffry Myers, on behalf of the Enpower Partnership.

"Energy Recovery Generation is a key component of Pristine's clean power development portfolio, enabling the generation of electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. We are actively developing new ERG projects in B.C. and across Canada."

Savona is the first project to achieve commercial operation under BC Hydro's 2006 Open Call for Power. "The Savona ERG project will deliver clean, renewable energy to BC Hydro and is another milestone for British Columbia on the path towards energy self sufficiency," said Myers.

"This is the type of innovative technology that IPPs and industry bring to the table, along with investment in B.C.'s economy," said Richard Neufeld, British Columbia's Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources.

"Developing made in B.C. solutions like this demonstrates our commitment to alternative energy sources, helps us achieve our aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets and builds on British Columbia's legacy of clean, green power sources."

"These two projects align with our position as a leader in climate change investments and the use of innovative technologies to reduce greenhouse gases," said Don Cameron, Vice President, Project Execution, Spectra Energy Transmission West. "We are keenly focused on providing more efficient and effective ways to operate our facilities and serve our customers and these projects fit well with these objectives."

The Savona and 150 Mile House projects are owned by Enpower Green Energy Generation L.P., a partnership jointly owned by Pristine and ENMAX Green Power Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ENMAX Corporation. Project development and execution is the responsibility of Pristine Power. The total cost of the two projects is expected to be approximately $31.5 million, on track with initial budget estimates.