Opportunity to Participate in Cogeneration Facility
with Toronto Hydro and the Private Sector
The Works and Utilities Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (August25, 1998) from the
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:
Purpose:
To address connecting the Main Treatment Plant (MTP) to a proposed cogeneration facility at the Paperboard Industries
Plant at 495 Commissioners Street, which is supported by Toronto Hydro. It is proposed that the City would provide the
facility with the MTP generated digester gas in exchange for hot water and standby electric power, after implementation of
a 100 Percent Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications arising from this report. Any financial implications will be addressed in the follow-up
report.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be given authority to negotiate a draft
agreement with Toronto Hydro and Boralex, the Paperboard Industries' subsidiary, specializing in cogeneration. In return
for the supply of hot water and standby power to the MTP, we would supply the MTP's generated digester gas upon
implementation of a 100 Percent Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program. The terms and conditions are to be satisfactory to the
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the City Solicitor, and be the subject of a further report to the
Committee.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At its meeting held on July 8, 1998, City of Toronto Council adopted Clause No. 2 of Report No.6 of The Works and
Utilities Committee, entitled "Implementation of a 100 Percent Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program". The report authorized
the establishment of an Independent Review Committee for the purposes of providing peer review of the Biosolids Project
and the move away from incineration to a 100 Percent Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
The implementation of a 100 Percent Biosolids Reuse Program at the MTP will result in shutting down the sludge
incinerators. This will make available quantities of digester gas presently fired in the incinerators, but at the same time
deprive the plant of the benefit of heat energy generated by the incinerator heat recovery boilers.
In reviewing heat supply alternatives to replace heat quantities presently provided by the incinerator heat recovery boilers,
we were made aware of the proposed Paperboard Industries' Cogeneration Project which is supported by Toronto Hydro.
Due to the location of the proposed facility (495Commissioners Street in Toronto, see map attached), which is very close to
the MTP, the idea of an energy exchange scheme was born.
The cogeneration facility requires gas to power its prime mover(s) and produces electric power and steam for the paper
plant. The MTP generates gas and needs hot water (a by-product of steam) as well as standby power in case of a power
failure in the Hydro grid system.
The timing of both projects, the 100 Percent Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program at the MTP and the Cogeneration Facility
for the 495 Commissioners Street Paperboard Plant, is similar.
We believe that this proposal could also reduce the overall CO2 emission resulting from the required energy generation
using conventional methods, compared with the cogeneration.
Conclusions:
The negotiations will determine if the MTP could benefit from an energy exchange scheme with the Cogeneration Facility
at the Paperboard Industries Plant at 495 Commissioners Street, and if successful, could lead to a three-party energy supply
agreement with Toronto Hydro. If an acceptable draft agreement is reached, it will be the subject of a separate report to the
Works and Utilities Committee.
Contact Name:
Mr. R. M. Pickett, Director, Water Pollution Control Division
Phone: (416) 392-8230; Fax: (416) 397-0908
E-Mail: bob_pickett@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca.
(A copy of the map referred to in the foregoing report has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda for
the Works and Utilities Committee meeting of September 9, 1998, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City
Clerk.)
