Youtube link: https://youtu.be/ZYJDIbQkfng
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Title: Nuclear Combined Heat & Power Possibilities in Canada: A Catalyst for New Energy Systems
Speaker: Michael Wiggin, Energy/Environmental Engineer
Abstract: Nuclear Combined Heat & Power Possibilities in Canada: A Catalyst for New Energy Systems”.
Canada has had an abundance of fuel options, particularly natural gas. Accordingly, few Canadians or policy makers were concerned about energy costs or security of supply. Most other nations had reason to be concerned about price and availability and also were more serious in their concerns on Climate Change.
Now Canada recognizes the need for GHG reductions and has adopted a net zero GHG emissions target. The electrification of building heating has been widely endorsed as a preferred option given current prices and emission factors. However, consultations show that the impact of electrification of building heating on the electricity system has been seriously underestimated.
The Boltzmann Institute has just completed a study for ECCC that indicates that the deployment of thermal networks (or district energy systems) in urban areas (about 70% of buildings in Ontario) could more realistically achieve substantial decarbonization in a way that is more sustainable, resilient and affordable.
Of the decarbonized energy sources (waste heat and renewable energy) the deployment of new or refurbished nuclear CHP (combined heat and power) has enormous potential. Pickering Nuclear Generating Station could redirect heat to heat most of Toronto. If such opportunities were pursued, the necessary thermal networks and thermal energy storage could harvest other sources of rejected heat or renewable energy; using intermittent or seasonal sources to meet winter heating needs.
This presentation will provide an overview of possibilities and the catalytic role of nuclear CHP in advancing systems that are now commonplace in most industrialized cold climate countries.
Background for Presentation at St. Andrew’s Men’s Fellowship:
Michael Wiggin is a retired energy/environmental engineer. After working in the district heating field for about 36 years, he took a break to restore an 1834 stone house in Prescott, Ontario. After that 2-year break, he returned to Ottawa, and, with other retired colleagues, established the Boltzmann Institute (bi-ib.ca) to promote affordable options to decarbonize the building heating sector.
During his career, he was, since 1984, the Director of NRCan’s district heating and cooling R&D and project development team, a member of the IEA district heating and cooling R&D executive committee of which he is a senior advisor and past chair for about 3 years, and is still a judge for the EuroHeat and Power sustainable district heating and cooling awards program.
From 2000 to 2001, he took a break and helped the Federation of Canadian Municipalities establish the Green Funds program and then a member of the Greater Vancouver Regional District team that won a 100 year sustainable community plan competition sponsored by the International Gas Union. After retiring from NRCan, in about 2007, Michael worked with Public Services and Procurement Canada to develop a conceptual design and transitional plan to convert the aging steam district heating system in Ottawa to hot water so that it can use waste heat or biomass from the region as part of its commitment to net zero energy design.
Currently, with colleagues from the district heating, electricity and nuclear energy sectors of the Boltzmann Institute, Michael is working to advance affordable options to electrification that promise to be more adaptable, resilient and sustainable. It is this current work that Michael wants to present for discussion at St. Andrews.
Presentation: Thermal Networks: the missing piece in decarbonization
Society benefits largely from networks to provide essential services: water and sewer networks, electricity networks and natural gas networks for space heating. These are now taken for granted, and as a result of their affordability, Canadian’s have not been pushed to achieve higher energy efficiency or renewable energy use as is now standard in many countries that are less endowed with energy resources.
Now climate change. Suddenly we respect the impact and causes and are committed to a net-zero energy society by 2050. We are of the opinion that, with electrification of space heating and the use of air source heat pumps, we are squandering the powerful and flexible electricity resource, partly because electricity experts are unaware of the peaky nature of heating loads and the extreme cost of serving heating needs with electricity. Michael will outline the thermal network option, the potential to use waste or renewable resources around or within our communities that are not accessible by buildings. Boltzmann is currently discussing using heat from future nuclear capacity at Pickering to heat all of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
Other interests: While energy and environment are his “day job”, Michael sends much of his time studying democracy and revolutions and works on old cars in his spare time.
Foresight Synergy Network (FSN) 