Alternative Energy
(Bio-Auto, Solar, Wind Power)
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Chatham-Kent is at the forefront in the alternative energy sector. Chatham-Kent Municipal Council has committed to drive their vision to transform Chatham-Kent into a leading centre for clean energy. Chatham-Kent was awarded with the 2009 Leadership Award by the Canadian Wind Energy Association.
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Bio-Fuels
Chatham-Kent is home to GreenField Ethanol, the largest supplier of ethanol, industrial fuel, and beverage grade alcohols in Canada. The company is looking to expand their operations in the near future. As well, GreenField Ethanol recently opened a state of the art research and development centre in Chatham which is looking at the next generation of cellulosic ethanol.
Chatham-Kent has identified biodiesel production as an emerging opportunity as a result of the region’s abundant soybean supply. Biodiesel fuel is renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic and sulphur-free. In partnership with the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus through the CARES group, a small biodiesel plant was built at the Rigetown Campus and will be operating by the end of 2009. The purpose of this facility is to test the technology to make it available for on-farm applications.
Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy & Sustainability (CARES)
The official opening of CARES was held in October and marks a significant turning point for our agricultural community, as the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus will be a centre of excellence for on-farm renewable energy technologies.
The first of its kind in Canada, CARES is a research and demonstration facility that will test new technologies and further develop them for readiness of on-farm applications. Essentially, it will bring renewable energy to the farm gate.
Green Energy
Wind projects are a growing opportunity for the rural sector.
• First Solar Inc. – 5MW construction project scheduled to start in mid-summer and be completed by Spring 2011
• Skypower – 9.4MW solar project in process of construction
• Kruger Energy – 44 turbine – 101MW project became operational in 2008 and in the midst of construction of an additional 101MW project
• BWP Group – awarded a FIT contract – Merlin Wind Farm consists of 6 trubines/9.9MW
• Gengrowth/Boralex – 4-10MW turbines fully operational – also have a large scale wind energy project proposed in the Fletcher area
• Invenergy – presently constructing a 78MW, 52 turbine project
• RES Canada Inc. (Renewable Energy Systems) – 69 turbine, 103.5MW project under construction
The Ag Business Centre, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
The Ag Business Centre is of a unique partnership between the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, South West Agri-Development, and University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus.
The Ag Business Centre’s goal is to cultivate partnerships and nurture rural economic development opportunities, including the administrative support for CARES and the Southwest Agri-Development committee. The Ag Business Centre also provides a key administrative role for the annual Southwest Agricultural Conference.
Krista Gladstone Project Manager
Telephone: 519.674.1597
Fax: 519.674.1512
Email: kgladsto@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca
For more information on the alternative energy opportunities in Chatham-Kent, please contact Economic Development Services.