Algonquin College President, Cheryl Jensen, and Siemens Canada CEO, Robert Hardt, came together on Earth Day (April 22) to unveil a new high-efficiency cogeneration power plant at the college’s Ottawa campus. The organizations also strengthened ties by signing a Memorandum of Understanding that will benefit Algonquin College students by providing opportunities to learn first-hand in a “living lab” for the future of energy systems.
The co-generation natural gas plant will generate two megawatts of power – enough to cover the baseline power needs of the Ottawa campus. Algonquin College’s Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract (ESCO) with Siemens is a 20-year, multi-million collaboration that has resulted in numerous efficiency and sustainability retrofits to the Ottawa campus. Installing the co-generation plant represents ‘Phase 3’ of the ESCO2 agreement, and produces a number of benefits for Algonquin College:
• Reduces the College’s energy expenses
• Reduces the College’s deferred maintenance (outstanding repairs and maintenance)
• Allows the College to continue to operate if and when there is an electricity outage
• Opportunities for students and programs to conduct applied research projects.
The heat generated by the plant will also be retained by this new system and used to heat and cool the College, further reducing Algonquin’s energy expenses.
Algonquin College and Siemens Canada plan to continue to collaborate on “leading edge academic programming that will maximize experiential learning opportunities for students and lead to new applied research opportunities.” In addition, the College has announced a new graduate certificate program to debut in Fall 2017. Energy Management is aimed at students with existing credentials who are looking to further their careers in the energy sector.
“This project is a game-changer in our efforts to maintain our facilities, control our costs, and expand the learning opportunities for our students,” said Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College. “Delegations the world over have visited our Ottawa campus because of the innovative thinking behind this project. This project has become a trend-setter, and we thank Siemens Canada for their creativity and their partnership.”
Ontario’s Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli, Ottawa West-Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld, and German Ambassador Werner Wnendt were on hand to tour the new plant and the future site of the new Energy Innovation Centre that will showcase inventive technologies for sustainable energy generation and energy management.
“I want to congratulate Algonquin and Siemens as they unveil this innovative project,” said Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli. “This facility will have long-term positive impacts on our local college, our region, and on our province. It will provide innovations in technology to reduce electricity costs, better manage energy use, and improve the training of the next generation of power workers and energy system innovators.”