NEWS RELEASE

Innovative cold energy storage project to continue under HRM direction

(July 7, 2009) - The Alderney 5 Energy Project on the Dartmouth waterfront will be completed.

Halifax Regional Council voted this evening to direct staff to complete the innovative cold energy storage project at a cost of $589,545, money that will be recovered through energy savings related to the cooling system. The first phase of the project, heating and lighting retrofits, was completed last year and has saved over $250,000 in operating costs.

“We remain committed to the project and look forward to reaping the benefits of this unique and 100 per cent renewable energy source,” said Mayor Peter Kelly.

The Alderney 5 project will use harbour water to provide cooling to five buildings: Alderney Gate, Alderney Library, Alderney Landing, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal, and the former Dartmouth City Hall (now used by the Halifax Regional School Board).

The first large-scale application of geothermal seasonal cold-energy storage anywhere in the world, the project harvests cold energy from seawater during winter months to chill an underground rock mass. It then uses the stored thermal energy to meet air conditioning needs in the warmest summer months.

On May 21, 2009, Halifax Regional Municipality notified High Performance Energy Systems (HPES) that its August 2007 contract to build and operate the facility was being terminated with cause. Work at the site came to a stop in February.

With council’s endorsement, HRM will now act as the general contractor hiring subcontractors as needed. It is expected that completion costs will be less than originally anticipated, but the termination of the HPES contract will delay turning on the cooling system until the end of summer. Once completed, the project is expected to result in over $2 million in incremental cooling savings over 20 years.

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Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010