Green Power Coming to Port of Hamilton Ontario

Hamilton, Canada, December 15, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Hamilton Port Authority (HPA) and Hamilton Utilities Corporation (HUC), through its subsidiary HCE Energy Inc., are partnering to implement an Industrial District Energy System (IDES) on Pier 10 at the Port of Hamilton. The system will include an energy centre consisting of a 2 megawatt (MW) natural gas engine that will provide electrical power to the grid, while at the same time "co-generating" hot water and steam to supply port tenant buildings and operations on the Industrial District Energy loop. The energy centre is designed to deliver clean, efficient energy to port tenants on Pier 10 in a cost competitive manner.

District Energy systems provide energy in the form of steam, hot water, or chilled water from energy centres that are connected through infrastructure or from a central plant. The connections are made through insulated pipes which transport energy in the form of heat or chilled water to multiple end users in an efficient manner while reducing overall emissions, energy and maintenance costs.

The Pier 10 Energy Centre will be located on a small footprint in a HPA-owned parking lot adjacent to the Arts & Science brewery on Burlington St. E, in Hamilton Ontario. This IDES system is envisioned to be the first of many opportunities the partnership will develop on HPA lands in order to enhance the benefits to tenants, the community and various stakeholders.

“This District Energy initiative is part of the Hamilton Port Authority’s drive to transition the Port of Hamilton into a smart, sustainable transportation and industrial hub,” explains Ian Hamilton, incoming President & CEO of the Hamilton Port Authority. “A port is a network of industries with similar needs; one of them is cost-effective energy. By embracing innovations, we can create a more environmentally sustainable port that benefits both our customers and our community.”

“Businesses in Hamilton and across Ontario are worried that the high price of electricity is undermining their ability to grow and hire new workers, or even to survive. As an organization dedicated to helping businesses thrive and our community prosper, this is deeply concerning. That’s why we think it is so important to innovate, and to work together as partners to tackle this challenge,” said HPA’s Ian Hamilton.

The project will be carried out by HCE Energy Inc. (formerly Hamilton Community Energy). A similar facility has been operating at the corner of York Blvd. and Bay St. in Hamilton since 2002. The new Pier 10 facility will be constructed, commissioned and placed into operation in a staged approach to meet immediate customer requirements, with the final build being operational by the second quarter of 2018.

“The Pier 10 project is an exciting project for HUC and aligns with HUC’s mission,” outlines Dean Comand, President and Chief Executive Officer of HUC. “The project is a very good example of how HUC partners with various stakeholders to provide their energy, telecommunications and operational needs in an innovative and sustainable manner. Initiatives such as the Pier 10 project will provide end users with the competitive advantage of lower costs, which will result in attracting new businesses to our service areas.”

HPA’s energy strategy aims to reduce energy consumption throughout Port
Today’s announcement is part of a larger sustainability vision by HPA, with HUC as a key partner. The two organizations have formalized a development agreement for the purpose of identifying and developing other opportunities for energy and telecommunication projects on the Port lands, including solar applications, green energy initiatives, data centres and industrial water. Through this strategy, HPA will competitively service its property, while reducing overall energy consumption on port lands, improve air quality and minimize the port’s overall carbon footprint – all of which will provide a competitive advantage for businesses that locate to Hamilton’s port district.