Situated in a remote area in Northwestern Ontario, Dryden Regional Health Centre (DRHC) has provided the community of Dryden and surrounding areas with high-quality patient care since 1952. The 42-bed facility supports the work of more than 300 staff, physicians, nurses and volunteers. As is often the case with rural health care facilities, the hospital’s greatest challenges involve controlling operational costs. When a taxpayer group determined that the facility’s electricity bills had increased close to 44% between 2012 and 2017, and provincial changes in pricing and rebates would add a more than 31% increase in November 2020, the facility’s leadership worked hard to find an alternative solution that could reduce the hospital’s dependence on the grid.

The hospital chose Capstone technology due to its high efficiency, high uptime and low maintenance requirements. For a remote, difficult-to-reach area of the country, it was important for the facility to be resilient and receive 24/7 remote monitoring from Vergent, immediately alerting the hospital of any equipment issues. 

Working with local engineering firm LBE Group and their construction partner, Dave McKay Construction, the new cogeneration system was installed in October 2019. It features four natural gas-fueled C65 microturbines, replacing an end-of-life boiler and is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions where winter temperatures can reach -40Cº (-40Fº). The microturbine array functions in grid-connected operation, working in tandem with the utility while also alleviating strain on this remote section of the power grid. 

In addition to providing electricity, the system also supplies the building’s heat by repurposing the exhaust produced by the microturbines. This has the added benefit of reducing the facility’s emissions and increasing efficiency by up to 80%.  To keep the system operating at its best, the installation is supported by a 15-year service contract that includes two engine overhauls over the span of the term.

Dryden, Ontario, is home to two other CHP installations by Vergent, including Dryden High School and the Dryden Memorial Arena.