Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro developing wind-hydrogen-diesel system for isolated communites

St. John's - Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) announced today that it is moving forward with an innovative project to integrate wind power with hydrogen and diesel generation for remote communities.

"We’re excited to lead the development and implementation of the world’s first isolated wind-hydrogen-diesel research and development project located in the community of Ramea," said Ed Martin, Hydro's president and CEO. "This project aligns with our objectives to pursue research and development opportunities in the energy sector."

The community of Ramea has been the location of a pilot project with wind and diesel generation since 2004 and this project will build on its success. The Remote Community Wind-Hydrogen-Diesel Energy Solution has the potential to significantly reduce Hydro’s reliance on diesel generation to provide clean, renewable energy to its isolated customers.

"This is a great step forward for Newfoundland and Labrador," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources. "It’s an example of the potential for research and development in the energy sector that supports this government’s energy planning and innovation objectives."

Located six kilometers off the south west coast of the Island of Newfoundland, Ramea is an island community of just over 700 residents. In September 2004, Hydro began purchasing wind energy from Frontier Power Systems, a non-utility generator in Ramea. The existing demonstration project is a 390-kilowatt (kW) wind farm producing electricity for electricity customers in Ramea. Since 2004, Hydro has purchased almost 800,000 kilowatt hours of energy from wind energy and has offset over 216,000 litres of diesel fuel.

Hydro will receive a $3 million investment from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) towards the five-year project. The total estimated cost is $9.7 million and Hydro’s project partners include:

- CANMET Energy Technology Centre at NRCan in Ottawa, ON;
- Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University, St. John’s, NL;
- Sustainable Power Research Group, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB; and
- Frontier Power Systems in Alberton, PE.

"Success of this project will place Hydro as a leader in the Canadian and North American electrical industry with respect to the ability to develop and implement innovative renewable energy systems to serve isolated and remote areas," stated Martin.