Technical Bulletins
Biogas: Another source of renewable energy
While Biogas may not be a new concept, it certainly seems to be gaining momentum in recent months. FortisBC is currently offering residents (single family or separately metered multi-family) located throughout the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Interior, North and the Kootenays an opportunity to sign up and supplement 10% percent of their natural gas usage with Biomethane, also known as Renewable Natural Gas.
The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) approval of the initial program has allowed FortisBC to implement agreements with Catalyst Power Inc. and the Columbia Shushwap Regional District (CSRD) – a recent winner of the 2012 FCM Sustainable Community Award for their Salmon Arm Landfill Gas Plant.
Suncor’s TRO Process – A New Look at Tailings Management – Mark Vuletin
For those that have been following the Oil Sands and its reclamation process, you may have heard about Suncor’s latest innovation, Tailings Reduction Operation (TROTM). The TROTM process is a new approach developed for managing tailings sites.
All mines generate tailings – left over material produced as a result of the extraction process. Currently, the industry uses a Consolidated Tailings (CT) approach which has been estimated to take at least 20 to 30 years in order to reach fully reclaimed land. With TROTM, Suncor hopes to significantly improve the speed of tailings reclamation, estimating a 10 year reclamation rate, and plans to invest over $1 billion in the process.
Power System Studies
One of the core services that our Electrical department offers is Power System Analysis in the form of comprehensive power system studies. Our Clients might require a power system study if they are building a new facility, making major changes to an existing facility, or to improve overall system reliability and safety.
Water Resources - Larry Sawchyn
Fransen provides high quality specialized development and management of water resources for Industrial and Municipal clients.
Powersmart and Energy Management - Jonathan Ho
When explaining the concept behind Power Smart to our clients, they are typically surprised. “You mean BC Hydro is paying to have their Customers buy less of their product?” The rationale is a directive from the BC government, which in its 2007 Energy Plan mandated that 50% of all BC Hydro’s incremental resource needs are to be met through conservation by 2020. This is in line with the most basic principle of Energy Management - the cheapest, greenest, and most sustainable kilowatt of power is the kilowatt you don’t use.
