Town of Hearst District Heating Feasibility Study
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Energy
Project value$115,300
Project Type
Feasibility Study
Sub Sector
District Energy – Waste energy recovery
Grant amount$56,650
Program type
GMF
Municipality
Town of Hearst, ON
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
4,794
Project timeline
2010 - 2012
Project number
10392
Description
The Town of Hearst will undertake a study to determine the feasibility of using excess hot water from a proposed private biomass energy plant to serve as a district heating source for neighbouring institutional and public buildings. The study will also evaluate the potential to supply hot water to a major employer in the community, Columbia Forest Products (CFP), for its industrial processes. Additionally, the study will explore energy management opportunities at the CFP mill and at the nearby Tembec Mill and evaluate the resulting energy savings, greenhouse gas reductions and wood waste reductions. The environmental impacts of the proposed biomass energy plant will be investigated by the private developer and are therefore beyond the scope of the proposed study.
Selection of the preferred options will be based upon the rate of return on investment, the capacity to repay initial capital development costs, and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Based on a RETScreen 4 model, it is estimated that the successful implementation of the project would reduce natural gas consumption by approximately 3.4 million m³ annually and would cut GHG emissions by 16,300 tonnes (CO2 equivalent) per year.
The proposed study aligns with the town’s sustainable development objectives pertaining to energy independence and greenhouse gas reduction and supports other municipal initiatives, such as the Hearst Green Technology Centre, which is intended to act as a catalyst for green technology demonstration and development. The study will also provide valuable information to other northern communities looking to modernize their heating systems and reduce their environmental footprints.
(Project description from original funding application)
Applicant
Town of Hearst, ON