Sewage smells sweet in Kelowna

Daily Courier Staff 10-04
Surplus energy from Kelowna‘s sewage treatment plant and an industrial operation could be used to heat and cool other buildings.  Two so-called district energy systems, worth a combined estimated $38 million, are planned through a partnership between the City of Kelowna and Terasen Gas."District energy can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring businesses and residences have a secure source of energy," said Mayor Sharon Shepherd. It‘s a long-range project, to be developed over the next decade, and subject to regulatory approvals from the B.C. Utilities Commission. The two systems would capture energy from the sewage treatment plant near Okanagan College and the Sun-Rype facility in the downtown north end. Buildings connected to district energy systems have lower capital costs for their energy equipment as they can eliminate conventional boilers, chillers, or air conditioners, saving upfront dollars that can be invested elsewhere. It‘s estimated the two systems would save 16,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, an amount that‘s equivalent to removing 3,500 cars from local roads annually.