Alternative Technologies
ENBRIDGE’S ALTERNATIVE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS
Since 2000, we’ve has steadily increased our investments in clean energy projects such as wind and solar. In just 12 years, our renewable and alternative energy assets have grown from virtually nothing to almost $3 billion.
The majority of our green energy investments are in wind and solar energy projects. However, we also invests in other technologies, projects and companies that will achieve returns similar to those realized by our oil and gas transportation and delivery operations, and that will contribute to a cleaner energy future.
Here’s an overview of the alternative and emerging energy projects, technologies and companies in which Enbridge has invested so far:
Corporate Equity Investments
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N-Solv Corporation
The N-Solv Bitumen Extraction Technology process builds on a commercial success achieved by the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process. Heated solvent vapor is injected into the gravity drainage chamber of an oil sands extraction operation instead of steam. This process preferentially extracts the valuable components in the bitumen while leaving problematic asphalteness behind.
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Sea NG
Sea NG is developing a system to transport compressed natural gas by sea. The technology will open up new markets to transport quantities of gas that are too small to make LNG transport economically feasible. The gas will be held in purpose build modules called coselles (a blend of the words “coiled pipe in a carousel”) that are designed to hold large amounts of compressed natural gas. The Coselle Technology also has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing the diesel currently used in many of these markets.
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Genalta Power
Genalta Power owns and operates independent power plants that produce and sell environmentally friendly electricity generated from waste energy sources. Genalta works with site owners to provide base load green energy; increase plant efficiencies; reduce operating costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
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Fuel Cell Energy
Fuel Cell Energy manufactures ultra-clean stationary fuel cell power plants that generate electricity with up to twice the efficiency of conventional fossil fuels plants and with virtually no air pollution. Using this technology, in 2008, Enbridge launched the world’s first Hybrid Fuel Cell power plant that was designed for gas utility pressure reduction stations. The plan converts unused natural gas pipeline energy into 2.2 MW of near zero-emissions electricity, which is enough power for approximately 1,700 residences.
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Coastal Hydropower Corporation
Coastal Hydropower is a run of river hydro developer. The company utilizes a Very Low Head (VLH) turbine that can be used for unconventional hydroelectric projects, including water control weirs, navigation canals, irrigation canals, dams build in small communities and municipal water intakes. With Coastal, Enbridge has invested in the Wasdell Falls Run of River Hydro Project, on Ontario’s Severn River, about an hour north of Toronto. The project will generate 1.65MW of hydroelectricity using highly efficient VLH turbines.
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Morgan Solar
Morgan Solar is a next generation solar power technology company that is pioneering a whole new approach to designing and manufacturing solar CPV modules. Enbridge’s investment is intended to help Morgan Solar commercialize a new line of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) panels, which use plastic lenses to boost solar cells’ power output. The technology provides an innovative means of generating solar power more efficiently, less costly and with a lower environmental footprint.
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Hydrogenics Corporation
Hydrogenics designs and develops hydrogen systems. Enbridge and Hydrogenics have partnered to develop large scale energy storage. Hydrogenics’ water electrolysis technology will convert surplus renewable energy into hydrogen gas, which can be injected into the natural gas distribution system. The technology could be particularly advantageous in markets with large amounts of renewable energy from intermittent sources such as wind.
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Syscor Controls and Automation Inc.
Syscor is a developer of wireless sensors used for deployment on storage tanks. The Victoria, B.C. based company is currently developing a sensor system dedicated to monitoring the status of floating roofs commonly used in above-ground storage tanks around the world.
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Temporal Power
Temporal Power is an Ontario-based manufacturer of electrical energy storage systems called flywheels. Temporal’s flywheel technology consists of spinning cylinders (flywheels) that are accelerated to a high speed by an electric motor. The spinning cylinders store the electrical energy as kinetic energy through their continuous high-speed rotation. Electricity can then be extracted when needed by using the kinetic energy to spin an electricity generator. The fast responding technology offers a cost effective solution for utilities and power generators for balancing energy and improving power quality on the electrical grid.
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NRGreen
Enbridge’s interests in waste heat generation are through the Enbridge Income Fund, which owns 50 per cent of NRGreen. NRGreen’s waste heat units are located at four of Alliance Pipeline’s natural gas compressor stations in Saskatchewan The stations recover the exhaust heat from natural gas turbines (which compress the gas to transport it through the pipeline) and convert it into electricity.
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Project Investments
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U.S. Geothermal Inc.
U.S. Geothermal is engaged in the acquisition, development and operation of geothermal power (renewable energy from the heat of the earth’s core) generation projects in the Western United States. The company currently has three projects: Raft River, San Emidio and Neal Hot Springs. Enbridge’s renewable portfolio includes a 41% ownership interest in the Neal Hot Springs geothermal project in eastern Oregon which began generating 22 MW of renewable electricity in late 2012.
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Project Aquistore
Enbridge is a partner in Project Aquistore, one of the first Canadian projects to field-study the storage of CO2 in a deep saline aquifer. The Saskatchewan-based project aims to prove that deep saline aquifer storage of CO2 is a safe and effective solution for greenhouse gas emission reductions, and to assess the costs associated with CCS. The results of the project will be made available to inform future CCS projects, and for government policy regulation and development.
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