Powering the Future of Healthcare: Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Unveils Completed Energy-Saving Power Plant

Several months after announcing the first phase of installation for its new energy-saving project, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) today unveiled the fully operational Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant.

With a multi-million dollar incentive from the Independent Electricity System Operator, provided by Thunder Bay Hydro, the new Combined Heat and Power (or co-generation) plant has successfully come on-line as an efficient way to generate electricity and thermal energy, and will offer tremendous economic and environmental benefits.

For the past two years, TBRHSC has been working closely with Thunder Bay Hydro, Johnson Controls and the Province of Ontario to develop and implement the $8.3M CHP project. The project offers a wide range of benefits for TBRHSC, its patients and the community.

TBRHSC continues to grow due to increasing community demands and its role as an academic health sciences centre. The need exists to constantly evaluate realistic alternatives to today’s conventional approaches to meeting energy demands. The project will not only reduce costs but also support the mandate of the Green Energy Act.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is the simultaneous production of two different forms of energy, heat and electricity from a single input energy. Heat recovered from the plant’s internal combustion engine is not released into the air as waste, but instead used to produce hot water thereby eliminating the additional use of boilers and fuel. The electricity is produced by burning natural gas, a cleaner fuel that will also reduce TBRHSC’s carbon footprint.

“As one of Thunder Bay’s largest employers, we oversee a vast facility that requires a significant amount of electricity to heat, cool, illuminate, and power on a daily basis”, says Dr. Bill McCready, Interim President & CEO of TBRHSC, and Interim CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute. “This project helps to reduce our energy costs and emissions, which also allows us to focus more resources on direct patient care.”

The CHP plant will produce over 16,000 Mwh (megawatt-hours) of power and more than 50,000 MMBTU (million metric British thermal units) of heat per year. Additionally, the new plant also provides supplemental on-site generated electrical power in the event of an extended power outage.

“TBRHSC has back-up generator power, and we see this as a further opportunity to be able to be self-sustaining in the event of a major issue and provide surety for patient care”, says Anne-Marie Heron, Executive Director of Capital Planning and Operations, TBRHSC.

“The new CHP plant is not only beneficial to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, but to the region, patient care and the people of Northwestern Ontario. Thunder Bay Hydro has a six year Energy Savings Target assigned by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), of 48,400 Mwh (megawatt-hours). The energy savings achieved from this project alone, is 30% of Thunder Bay Hydro’s energy target.” Robert Mace, President, Thunder Bay Hydro

“Our government is proud to have worked so closely with all of our partners toward the opening of this energy saving power plant that will help Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre reduce its carbon footprint. This new co-generation plant is an example of how working together, we can achieve great things for our community”. Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, Minister of Northern Development and Mines

“I am proud of our government’s support on the combined heat and power plant project at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. It will result in huge electricity cost savings each year, allowing more resources to be put directly into patient care here in Northwestern Ontario.” Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry

For more information, please contact:

Marcello Bernardo
Communications Officer
Communications & Engagement
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
(807) 684-6765
bernarma@tbh.net 

Amanda Bay
Thunder Bay Hydro
Tel: (807) 767-4443 ext. 223
amanda@firedogpr.com