The PEI Energy Corporation will begin tendering this fall for equipment for the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village Project. Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem said construction will begin in the spring and Islanders and visitors will see the first phase of the demonstration project in operation by next August.
“The Province is looking forward to moving ahead with the Wind-Hydrogen Village. There is a great deal of interest in this project and it will be an excellent complement to other attractions at North Cape,” said Minister Ballem. “With the Wind Energy Institute of Canada opening there this fall, PEI will have a world-class wind research facility. The development of Canada's first grid-independent Wind-Hydrogen Village will further strengthen the Island’s reputation as a centre of excellence for research and development of renewable energy technologies.”
The wind-hydrogen project will demonstrate how wind energy and hydrogen technologies can work together to offer clean energy solutions for small and remote communities. The Government of Prince Edward Island will invest $2.9 million in the project. This includes $2.5 million in earnings from the North Cape Wind Farm and $425,000 from Prince Edward Island Business Development.
A change in the management structure will see Prince Edward Island have greater control over the Wind-Hydrogen Village Project with the PEI Energy Corporation leading the initiative.
The PEI Energy Corporation and Hydrogenics Corporation have agreed to discontinue the joint project announced in April 2005. A shortfall in private sector funding led to funding formula issues that, despite best efforts, the parties were unable to overcome. While disappointed the original project partnership did not work out, Minister Ballem said there are other benefits to having the PEI Energy Corporation lead the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village Project.
“This will enable us to maximize economic benefits for Prince Edward Island with greater opportunity to purchase certain equipment and services locally. Even more significantly, we will have greater opportunity to truly develop local expertise. At the end of the day, we will be developing a ‘made-in-PEI’ wind-hydrogen electrification system that can be replicated and commercialized for use in remote communities.”
The first phase of the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village Project includes the installation of a hydrogen production station, a hydrogen storage depot, a hydrogen fuelled generator, and a wind-hydrogen integrated control system. Wind energy from the turbines at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada will be used to meet ongoing electricity needs and to provide power to electrolysis equipment which makes hydrogen from water. The hydrogen will then be used in a hydrogen fuelled engine to provide backup electricity to the Wind Energy Institute of Canada, the existing Atlantic Wind Test Site building, and the North Cape Wind Farm utility building. Based on the results in Phase 1, the intent is that Phase 2 of the PEI Wind-Hydrogen Village Project would see the control system power other homes and buildings in the North Cape area.
Development of the control system and its subsequent commercialization will be carried out by PEI-based Frontier Power Systems through an agreement with the PEI Energy Corporation. Frontier Power Systems specializes in the design, construction and installation of control systems to enable renewable energy-based technologies to be integrated into conventional electrical systems. The company is currently deploying a wind-diesel control system that was developed at North Cape, in a renewable energy project on Ramea Island, off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Details of the transportation component of the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village Project are still being finalized. The Energy Corporation is in discussions with potential partners on options that would demonstrate wind-hydrogen technologies in the transportation sector and give visitors to the site the opportunity to experience hydrogen-powered transportation. Plans for this component of the project, which could include a hydrogen fuelling station and hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, are expected to be in place this fall, with construction beginning in the spring of 2007.
Mark Victor will be serving as the project manager for the Prince Edward Island Wind-Hydrogen Village Project. Mr. Victor is a professional engineer and has worked with the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry in several capacities. For information on the development of the wind-hydrogen demonstration project, visit the website at www.gov.pe.ca/go/peiwind-hydrogen