The company’s pilot CHP system was installed at one of its North York buildings, a 35-story apartment complex located near Toronto’s airport. Replacing a traditional genset, the system features four dual-mode ICHP C65 microturbines that produce energy for on-site use and the building’s thermal load. The units generate more than 1.9 million kWh per year, or about 60% of the building’s baseload. 

As is characteristic of Capstone CHP systems, exhaust heat can be recovered during energy production. Exhaust heat can be used in a variety of ways, including water heating, space heating, direct or indirect drying, and driving thermally activated equipment.

The REIT’s microturbine-based CHP system is capturing waste heat that is then used for year-round heating and domestic hot water, which supplements the building’s boilers and offsets the need for additional fuel. At the same time, the fully autonomous system provides backup power in support of critical emergency loads such as elevators, fire pumps and emergency lighting. In the event of a power outage, the system seamlessly provides electricity to keep these critical needs up and running. In accordance with Canadian building code, the system was designed to meet CSA 282.15, which is the emergency life safety standard for buildings. This means that the system is fully compliant with the strictest requirements for backup power, in addition to being a highly efficient energy system.

Since the system design allows all four units to operate continuously, uptime is near 100%—even during times of maintenance. And because each unit has only one moving part, such maintenance costs are dramatically lower than those required for more traditional power generation systems.