GE's first Jenbacher CO2 fertilization cogeneration system for commercial greenhouses sold in North America
26 January 2007 11:40
Project Marks First North American Application of This Technology
An Ontario, Canada, commercial tomato greenhouse operator is installing a 12MW Jenbacher CO2 fertilization cogeneration system, designed by GE Energy, to boost crop production and generate needed electricity for the regional grid.
Soave Hydroponics Company, a division of Detroit, Michigan-based Soave Enterprises, is installing the special cogeneration plant in its 55-acre Kingsville greenhouse facility as part of the Ontario Power Authority's Request for Proposals to add 1,000MW of cogeneration power capacity to the local grid. The greenhouse operation is located in the Leamington region on the north shore of Lake Erie, about 350km west of Toronto.
Construction on the plant is expected to start in May 2007 and be completed in December 2007. It is one of seven cogeneration projects recently approved by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) as the agency seeks to diversify the region's energy supply.
GE's special cogeneration system features four Jenbacher JMS 620 gas engines as well as heat recovery and exhaust treatment equipment, noise abatement insulation and systems controls.
GE's Jenbacher worldwide Center of Excellence in the Netherlands developed the technology for CO2-fertilization in greenhouses. CO2 - a key component in the process of photosynthesis - is present in the engines' exhaust gas. After the purification of the exhaust gas with special catalytic converters, the gas is cooled down and supplied to the greenhouse crop for CO2 enrichment.
The new plant's 12MW of electrical output will primarily be supplied to the Ontario Power Authority, under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The plant will generate enough power to support 12,000 homes in the area, according to Soave Hydroponics Company.
Additionally, thermal energy from GE's engines will be stored in hot water tanks and deployed to heat the greenhouse.
As a result of installing the special cogeneration system, Soave Hydroponics Company will be able to reduce its energy costs without curtailing its annual production levels, thus improving its competitive position in the commercial tomato industry.
"The project is an important one for GE Energy, as it represents the first Jenbacher CO2 fertilization cogeneration system to be installed in North America," said Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE Energy's Jenbacher gas engine business. "While this is a common application in the Netherlands, where our Center of Excellence for this application is located as well, Soave Hydroponics Company' plant will serve as an important reference project for our customers in North America."
GE's authorized Jenbacher gas engine distributor, DDA Canada East, supplies the cogeneration modules while GE Energy is providing balance of plant (BOP), project management and plant installation services through its Center of Excellence for greenhouse applications in the Netherlands. H.H. Angus and Associates Ltd. of Toronto is providing engineering services for the project.
GE Energy's Jenbacher gas engine business is a leading manufacturer of gas-fueled reciprocating engines, packaged generator sets and cogeneration systems for power generation.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2005 revenue of $16.5 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
For more information on this company:
GE Energy - Jenbacher Gas Engines
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