Action Plan - FCM

Town of Banff Local Action Plan
Community-Wide Initiatives
Initiative 1: PROMOTING DISTRIBUTED ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES
Description: The Town should promote distributed energy options 25 by providing information about
the successful photo voltaic (PV) installation in the Operations Compound, and about
future distributed energy plans.
Overview &
timeline:
Responsibility: Operations Manager
Ease of
Implementation:
Capital /
Development
Costs:
During completion of the CEP, a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of a district
energy system, wind turbines and large scale geothermal heating technologies was
conducted. The assessment found that there is currently no excess heat load capacity
available for initiating a district energy system; the visual impact of wind turbines may
make it difficult to obtain adequate support for wind turbines in the park; and there is
already a significant draw down on ground heat due to hotsprings developments.
PV systems are currently the only technology that has been considered in Banff at this
time. However, these technologies are still cost prohibitive, with long pay-back
periods. This is not expected to change for another five years. Until this time,
additional distributed energy generation pilots will be identified and carried out by the
Town to gain experience in emerging distributed energy technologies, and to begin the
process of sharing information with the community. Other technologies that are cost
competitive, proven technologies include solar hot water and geothermal heat pump
systems. In particular, the Earth Energy Utility was recently formed to provide
financing and operations assistance for geothermal heat pump systems.
The Town of Banff has already installed a PV system at the Operations Compound,
with plans to install a hydrogen fuel cell in the future.
In 2004, the Town would evaluate additional distributed energy pilot projects (such as
small geothermal heat pumps) and develop communication material to promote the
Town's existing and planned actions, and to outline opportunities available to
residents. This would include providing extensive information on the Towards a
Sustainable Banff (TSB) Web Portal (see separate profile).
In five to ten years time, in anticipation of PV and solar domestic water heating
technologies becoming more economically viable, the Town could initiate the
evaluation installation of net metering opportunities throughout the community.
Moderate
The cost for initiating additional distributed energy systems would be high (>$25,000).
A detailed benefit-cost analysis would be required before pursuing any option.
Human resourcing costs for start-up of an additional distributed energy project would
need to be evaluated when a technology is identified.
25 Distributed Energy Systems are small-scale power generation technologies (typically 3 to 10,000 kW) located close to existing electricity
infrastructure that provides an alternative or additional supply to that traditional electric power systems. They can include such things as
microturbines, photovoltaic systems, ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers. Hydrogen fuel cells and rechargeable batteries can be used
with these systems to increase their functionality.
The Sheltair Group Page
Sept 2003
71