June 1, 2009 - BC community to reduce GHG emissions with Hydrogen Assisted Renewable Power System (HARP)
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BC community to reduce GHG emissions with Hydrogen Assisted Renewable Power System (HARP)

The town of Bella Coola, British Columbia, will soon be the site of a state-of-the-art energy system that will demonstrate a clean power solution for remote communities. The HARP project is a partnership between BC Hydro, General Electric (GE), and Powertech. The Project is supported by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), a not-for-profit corporation created by the Government of Canada.

Clean Power :BC community to reduce GHG emissions with Hydrogen Assisted Renewable Power System (HARP)

The HARP project will reduce Bella Coola’s annual diesel consumption by 200,000 litres – lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 600 tonnes annually. It will also provide storage for run-of-river power, so the electricity can be used when the community needs it most.

Bella Coola, which is 439 kilometres north of Vancouver, is not connected to BC Hydro’s grid. Currently, the town is powered by diesel generators, which emit greenhouse gases, and by a run-of-river facility which, while clean, is not capable of storing energy. This peak power shaving system works by converting electricity from a renewable source (run-of-river), in off peak periods, into hydrogen through an electrolyzer, and subsequently into electricity through a fuel cell for power during periods of peak demand.

This project demonstrates how the integration of renewable power and clean fuel cell technology can displace diesel generation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits will be optimized through the use of a microgrid system which will wirelessly monitor and react to changes in supply and demand. GE Digital Energy's Microgrid Controller will find the most economically efficient way to manage energy for the community.

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