Revelstoke Community Energy Project

This study builds on the results of GMEF 2316 (Revelstoke Community Energy Project) and is in line with municipalobjectives for a forest-based sustainable community. The study will examine the feasibility of a district energy system(DES) that would serve the kiln facility of Downie Timber Ltd. and nine community buildings. The proposed DES wouldbe located adjacent to the sawmill kilns and would include a 1.5-megawatt (MW) biomass fired hot-oil boiler with abackup/peaking propane boiler. The biomass fuel would be converted to thermal energy via the latest generation andcommercially proven biomass combustion system. The flue gas would be scrubbed utilizing an electrostatic precipitator(ESP) to meet provincial environmental standards. The plant would consume approximately 6,600 green tonnes ofresidue annually and would serve 85 per cent of the annual kiln load. Downie would provide, free of charge, the bulk ofthe wood biomass as fuel for the generation of heat plus pay the project a disposal or environmental charge comparableto the sawmills alternative propane gas cost. The plant would be able to provide 95 per cent of the heat for thecommunity buildings. It is estimated that the system would reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) by 3,200 tonnes annually(4.1 per cent) and divert over 2,000 cubic meters of landfill.