The Dryden Regional Health Centre is taking a proactive approach to combat rising energy costs.
Austin Madussi is the Director of Facilities at the hospital and he says a $1.62 million co-generation project has been completed.
“It is natural gas turbines, burning natural gas, to produce electricity and we’re reclaiming the heat off of it to heat our building. Turbines in these units, they are very efficient, in the 90% range, so they are very clean burning.”
The original cost of the project was around $1.52 million, however Madussi notes they encountered additional costs to replace gas regulators, remove redundant equipment and repairs to the main electrical panel.
Madussi says they are anticipating savings of $150,000 to $290,000 a year on their utility bill.
He says the project will also help anticipated pressures next year.
Due to provincial changes in pricing and rebates, electricity costs at the hospital are expected to go up 31.28% on November 1st, 2020.
Madussi stresses “If it was not for the co-gen project, we would be paying our previous utility rate from the 2018/2019 fiscal, which was approaching the half million dollar mark.”
He notes there is also room for expansion.
“Our physical building where we put the units in has room for an additional two units. Now we got to weigh our options and look at everything in the future. Possible expansions, powering part of the Clinic (Dingwall Medical Clinic/Family Health Team), future load demands, different equipment we are powering.”
Madussi says the additional would require some capital spending, but notes it’s a viable option to meet future energy needs.
