The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and Elementa Group Inc. have reached a power agreement that will allow Elementa to build a renewable energy generating facility in Sault Ste. Marie.
The OPA and Elementa have signed a 20-year contract for the company to generate clean electricity at a new non-incineration waste-fuelled plant operated by the company. The plant will add 9.5 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity to the Ontario grid and process approximately 50,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste. Electricity generated will power the equivalent of 10,000 homes. The project is valued at approximately $55 million.
“Our government’s landmark renewable energy strategy is leading the way in North America by supporting innovative alternative energy projects throughout the province that create high quality local jobs and reduce pressure on our electricity grid,” Sault MPP David Orazietti said in a release. “Elementa’s new waste-to-energy project will further diversify our local economy and strengthen Sault Ste. Marie’s position as a leader in the renewable energy sector.”
Developed in Ontario, this plant will be the first non-incineration commercial project of its kind and will increase the province’s clean energy supply while supporting the creation of additional clean energy jobs. The project will create 25 to 30 full-time jobs, more than 100 construction jobs and is scheduled to reach commercial operation by 2016.
“We wish to sincerely thank Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti and the province of Ontario for their support for this project and the advancement of Elementa and our technology,” Elementa CEO Jay Zwierschke said in the release. “We are also appreciative of the City of Sault Ste. Marie for their support as the host community for the new plant and would recommend Sault Ste. Marie to all clean energy developers as the place to be if you want to grow your business and become an industry leader.”
The technology developed by Elementa produces clean and efficient renewable energy from waste feedstock. It is based on a unique steam reformation (SR) process, a patented clean-energy technology that uses high temperature SR in a non-oxidizing environment to chemically break down carbon based materials into a clean syngas.
