The Community Energy Park is a microgrid that uses solar panels to make electricity, and a cogenerator to produce both electricity and heat. The smart grid controller is the brains of the microgrid and distributes the power to all three facilities, plus an electric vehicle charging station. The use of all these technologies together is unique in Canada, and helps prepare North Bay for the grid of tomorrow.
SOLAR
COGENERATOR
SMART GRID
BATTERY
CHARGING
STATION
The Community Energy Park provides:
86
of electricity requirements
55
of heating and hot water requirements
84
of electricity
requirements
87
of electricity requirements
55
of heating and hot water requirements
SOLAR PANELS
Located on the roof of Memorial Gardens, the solar panels turn the sun’s energy into electricity that is either used by the facilities right away or stored in the battery. The battery works together with the smart grid controller to balance all power sources for maximum efficiency.
Makes electricity from sunlight
Smart grid controller balances all power sources
Electricity is stored in battery or used right away
COGENERATOR
A cogenerator is a large engine that makes electricity and heat. The cogenerator’s twin 360 HP engines run on natural gas. The heat made by the engine is captured and transferred to the facilities by underground water pipes, providing heat for the boiler systems, Aquatic Centre pool and domestic hot water.
Twin 360 HP engines
Runs on natural gas
Produces electricity with heat as a byproduct
Heat is captured and transferred to the facilities by water pipes
Smart grid controller balances all power sources
Electricity is stored in battery or used right away
SMART GRID CONTROLLER
The smart grid controller is the brain that brings together all these innovative technologies. It sends the power where it needs to be, when it needs to be there. The smart grid controller uses the battery as a buffer to level-out power distribution within the microgrid.
Electricity produced is distributed by the smart grid controller
Allows smart grid controller to balance and distribute electricity
Solar power is distributed by the smart grid controller
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION
The Community Energy Park will also include provision for charging 2 or more electric vehicles. North Bay will be in the forefront of solutions for an efficient and sustainable future.
ISLAND MODE
In an emergency, the Community Energy Park can operate independently from the electrical grid indefinitely, as long as there is natural gas available. This “island” provides our community with a centrally located shelter with heat and power, and keeps childcare up and running – an important factor as our first responders deal with the situation at hand.
Innovation Team:
This project funded in part by
