Electric utility companies are beginning to face the reality
of depleting natural resources and are looking for more efficient and
environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional energy sources. In
Ontario, Canada, Veridian Corporation is one of the largest and fastest
growing electricity distribution companies in the province, serving more
than 108,000 customers east and north of Toronto. However, an estimated
25,000 MW of Ontario’s peak capacity of 32,000 MW is targeted for
phase-out, refurbishment or replacement over the next 20 to 30 years.
Electricity companies, such as Veridian, are being challenged to address
this looming power supply shortfall through a combination of affordable,
sustainable generation sources and an increased focus on electricity conservation
and demand management (CDM).
In answer to this need, Veridian has taken on several conservation projects
delivered under the powerWISE® brand. In 2006, Veridian invested close
to $1.5 million in CDM programs, resulting in energy savings of 13 million
kilowatt-hours—enough to power over 1,400 homes for a year. Among
the many initiatives introduced to residential customers was ‘Tune-up
and Save’, launched in May 2006, whereby customers signed up to
have technicians come to their homes to insulate their hot water pipes,
install insulation blankets on electric water heaters, check thermostat
settings and replace old inefficient showerheads and kitchen faucet aerators.
Veridian launched another initiative in association with a local Home
Depot store. The “Great Exchange” program encouraged customers
to exchange more than 300 electricity-guzzling halogen floor lamps and
almost 2,000 incandescent festive light strings for more energy efficient
products that would save over 900,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a
year—enough to power 100 homes. A similar program, delivered in
partnership with the Clean Air Foundation, was called “Keep Cool.”
Customers were asked to retire their inefficient room air conditioners,
and in exchange were given a $25 discount coupon that could be used towards
the purchase of an Energy Star® appliance at The Home Depot. A total
of 600 old air conditioners were removed from service, and 237,000 kilowatt-hours
a year will be saved as a result.
Perhaps the most powerful symbol of Veridian’s commitment to the
environment, energy conservation and alternative energy sources is the
plug-in hybrid solar car driven by President and Chief Executive Officer,
Michael Angemeer. Since September 2006 he has driven the car on a daily
basis as his corporate vehicle and reports that he can travel about 55
kilometers on a single battery charge, only using gasoline for acceleration.
”One car like this won’t save the world but the tens of thousands
of plug-in vehicles that automakers will produce within a few years and
the increased use of solar power will have a dramatic impact,” said
Angemeer.
“It’s exciting to be directly involved in the testing and
promotion of new technology that can help reduce air pollution and greenhouse
gases, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and make more efficient use
of our electricity system,” stated Angemeer. Working in conjunction
with Hymotion Canada (recently acquired by A123 Systems), Solera Sustainable
Energies Company and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
(UOIT), Veridian has installed an extra lithium ion battery pack in the
hybrid Prius. This additional battery capacity allows the car to be plugged
into a regular 120-volt wall outlet overnight in order to take advantage
of lower cost, off-peak electricity. The Province of Ontario has embarked
on an ambitious smart meter project that is expected to make time-of-use
electricity pricing available to all electricity customers by 2010.
To complement the car’s plug-in capability, solar panels have been
installed on the roof of the vehicle and Veridian’s head office
building to deliver a clean, emission free battery charge during the day.
This makes Angemeer’s car the first plug-in hybrid solar vehicle
in Canada. The next, and most exciting phase of the project will be to
develop a grid interface for the vehicle. “In the future, if we
get this right, we can return power from the vehicle to support the grid,
or even supply power to our homes during an electricity black-out,”
said Angemeer.
According to Kamiel Gabriel, Associate Provost of Research, UOIT, Veridian’s
commitment to the development of plug-in solar cars is not only unique
among Ontario’s electricity companies, it also reflects the utility’s
deep understanding of the potential for alternative fuel sources. “Solar
cars may seem an unusual form of sponsorship for an electric utility;
but to those of us in the research community, it sends a very clear message
that the utility of the future will be much more than just poles and wires.
They’ll be enablers of advanced technology, for the benefit of the
planet.” |
