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ENMAX Energy has set up solar domestic hot water, solar photovoltaic, micro-wind generation and combined heat and power technologies at various test sites across the province. We have been tracking and evaluating the performance of each of these technologies to identify and bring the best options to Albertans.
In 2007, ENMAX Energy began developing its very own test facility for micro-wind generation. Our South Service Center facility in Calgary has five small-scale wind generation technologies set up that allow comparison of the operations of each technology.
At the same time, ENMAX Energy launched ten micro-wind generation test sites scattered across Southern Alberta. The north most wind site is located west of Cochrane on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Continuing down the eastern slopes, there are test sites in Okotoks, Pincher Creek, Fort Macleod, Lethbridge and Milk River. Each of these sites has a 2 kW wind turbine connected to the home or the farm for evaluating the performance with different geographies and end users. ENMAX Energy specifically chose locations inside town boundaries, on farms, in river valleys, on ridges and in the foothills with an eye to demonstrate the technology across the widest possible applications.
In 2007, ENMAX Energy also began the development of our solar demonstration center at our head office in Calgary. There are eight technologies of solar photovoltaic panels and solar hot water systems that can be found on the rooftop of our building. The solar hot water technologies that ENMAX Energy is exploring supplement your existing hot water tank by pre-heating water with solar energy. The solar photovoltaic panels convert energy from the sun into electricity.
Finally, ENMAX Energy has been exploring a combined heat and power system (CHP) that can fit in your house. The very latest in the combined heat and power technology has been installed and tested in two Calgary homes. From these tests sites, we are sharing data with the manufacturer and the government of Canada as we seek to develop a working product for Alberta homes.
For 2008, in addition to the solar demonstration center at our head office, we created a mobile interpretive center that travels around the province demonstrating the solar and, combined heat and power system technologies. |