Italy-headed Turboden S.p.A., a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group Company and a worldwide leader in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology, has disclosed its "crucial role" in achieving grid independence for the remote community of Opitciwan in Canada.
The Opitciwan community, a proud First Nation, has long sought a sustainable and reliable energy solution to replace their outdated diesel generators.
Through the use of a 4.8 MWe ORC biomass power plant, Turboden is at the forefront of a groundbreaking Biomass Cogeneration Plant Project, supported by Hydro-Québec and owned by the Conseil des Atikamekw Opitciwan.
Turboden’s state-of-the-art ORC technology offers the perfect answer, utilizing local wood residues such as bark and sawdust as primary fuel.
This biomass is combusted in a thermal oil boiler, generating heat that is transferred via a closed thermal oil loop to the ORC turbogenerator, producing clean electricity for the community.
The ORC technology allows the community to be independent from the grid to produce electricity for local consumption but can also generate excess electricity beyond self-consumption and sell it through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
This is our second project for the First Nation that confirms the reliability and efficiency of the technological solution offered by Turboden, not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also to ensure a reliable power supply in a remote location and procurement costs saving for the community, said Paolo Bertuzzi, CEO and Managing Director of Turboden.
Societal support
Supported by provincial and federal grants, the project meets stringent criteria for social and environmental responsibility.
The project significantly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by utilizing forest biomass, and the community has secured a 25-year PPA with Hydro-Québec, with the option of a 15-year extension.
This project sets a precedent for hundreds of remote First Nation communities in Canada seeking similar grid independence solutions offering both stability and environmental benefits by using local wood residues.
