The Project
Stage 1 Feasibility Study Results
A primary aim of Stage 1 of the Feasibility Study was to develop a concept design for a New Glasgow-wide Biomass District Heating System (DHS) and determine if the DHS could reduce heating costs for homes and business. In Stage 2, the project team will engage with the Town and residents to further explore heat plant locations, ownership structure, utility design, and biomass supply.
Masterplan Concept – Network Design and Build-Out
The New Glasgow DHS is designed as a zoned network with a transmission pipe to carry hot water from the bioenergy plant to substations that then transfer heat to zoned distribution networks.
Heat would primarily be generated in a central biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The plant would be in a purpose-built energy centre, with distributed heat-only boilers to serve peak demand (~70 MW). Revenues from the electricity coproduced by the CHP would help to keep heat costs low.
The network would be built out over at least a decade, starting with the most heat dense areas, followed by expansion to connect to most single-family homes.
Phase 1 Concept (~5 year Build Out)
In Phase 1a, the biomass CHP plant and transmission pipe to three distribution zones would be constructed. About 150 commercial and institutional buildings would be connected.
In Phase 1b, the residential neighbourhood south of downtown with many older homes heated with fuel oil and radiators would be connected to the network, proving the concept of connecting single family homes.
Building Connections
Buildings would be connected to the distribution network via a service pipe that runs underground to a heat transfer unit (HTU) inside the building. The HTU is the connection between the heat network and a building’s heating system and is included in the estimated cost of the DHS.
HTU design depends on buildings’ size and existing heating system (e.g. hydronic or forced air). In homes and smaller commercial buildings, a pre-fabricated, wall mounted HTU would be used. In larger buildings, HTUs would be more customized.
Economics
We are still working to further refine costs but Stage 1 results suggest that the cost of heat from a New Glasgow-wide Biomass DHS could be lower than all alternatives, none of which are low carbon.
The development of a DHS in New Glasgow, fueled with local biomass, would also generate significant regional economic activity, creating local jobs in system construction, operation and biomass supply and keeping energy expenditures within the region.
The regional economic impact of a Town-wide Biomass DHS in New Glasgow could be up to $70 Million per year!
Next Steps – Feasibility Study Stage 2
► Refine Technical and Economic Analysis
The results of Stage 1 of this feasibility study are promising and justify completion of Stage 2. Despite a high capital cost, the micro and macroeconomics of a community-wide system could be favourable compared to the current situation and electricity-based alternatives.
Tasks to be completed in Stage 2 include:
- In-building assessments of 50 largest buildings in New Glasgow
- Class C costing and design of the biomass CHP, including major equipment quotes
- Refinement of in-building conversion costs based upon in-building assessments
- Heat network refinement and Class C network costing
- Prefeasibility of underground electricity distribution system
- Triple bottom line analysis and life cycle cost assessment
- Risk analysis and risk mitigation strategy
► Public Consultations
Now that the project team has determined a community-wide biomass DHS in New Glasgow could be economically viable and has conceptualized what the network could look like, we will be looking for input from Town Staff, Council and New Glasgow residents on some key aspects of the project. Consultations with Town Staff and Council are on-going. Public Town Hall meetings are planned for Fall 2023.
Questions that will be addressed through public consultations include:
- Where should the bioenergy plant be located?
- What are your priorities (e.g., low cost heat, GHG reduction, regional development, etc.)?
- What are your concerns and how can they be addressed?
- Should electricity revenues from the biomass CHP be maximized?
- How will the biomass supply chain be structured to ensure reliable and sustainable supply?
- Who should be responsible for establishing and enforcing biomass sustainability criteria?
- Who will own the heat network, bioenergy plant and in-building HTUs?
- Who will operate the heat utility responsible for billing customers?