MHC microgrid build begins

By Collin Gallant on November 28, 2018.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com @CollinGallant

Work is underway to build a renewable energy microgrid at Medicine Hat College, which administrators and industry officials say will boost enterprise, learning and, of course, power production.

A fast-charging electric car fuelling station, unique blue-tinged corkscrew wind turbines, and perhaps other green energy projects, are planned for an area neighbouring the Trans-Canada Highway.

“There are a number of different components,” said college director of advancement Mark Keller in a recent interview with the News.

“We’re trying to generate opportunities: There’s an opportunity to learn, to work with different partners and to really showcase this to the community.

“Those are all coming together.”

First announced in early 2017, the college, city and local economic developers promoted the idea as a starting point for drawing investment dollars to the area while the college would host new research and essentially gain a hands-on facility for students to complete lab work.

Physical work is now underway on the project, which involves a large solar canopy that will be erected in the Cultural Centre parking lot and will be complete with two electric car charging stations. Nearby, private company Bluenergy Solar Wind plans to erect four turbines.

The panel array will be built the length of the parking lot, over the southern most row of stalls where they will be clearly visible from the Trans-Canada Highway and College Avenue overpass and off-ramps.

Work began on the transformers located at the Cultural Centre last week, and this week, crews began running power lines under the parking lot. Those will be installed via directional drilling to install conduit, thereby limiting the need to trench near the asphalt. After that, foundations, piles and the erection of the canopy should move forward in December, depending on weather.

The four turbines — which stand 25-feet tall and 10-feet wide — will be most notable near, but not on, the parking lot. Those will be tested in real-world conditions for BSW, which is marketing the combination of solar panels on windmill blades as a reliable green power producer for institutions, condo or commercial developments.

That arrangement between the college and the company was announced in early 2017, but MHC has worked to expand the idea and is seeking other companies looking to test equipment.

The micro-grid project is being paid for in part by a $526,000 grant from the federal ministry of Western Diversification, and a $256,000 grant from Alberta Labour. Government officials stated at last spring’s funding announcement, the endeavour could help 50 companies test and certify their machinery, while 150 students would earn credits or gain work experience analyzing data or building the power systems.

Keller also told the News that a newly announced addition in a solar thermal system for hot water heating is also planned, but may need to be apart form the others as it will provide heating for domestic hot water, not electricity.

“It needs to be installed on an existing building,” said Keller. “That engineering work has to be done before we have that answer.”

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