Sharc Int'l turning poop into energy at False Creek

Executive Summary

• Sharc International Systems Inc. has completed the supply and commissioning of five Sharc 880 systems at the City of Vancouver’s False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility (NEU) expansion.
• The expansion has tripled the NEU's capacity from 3.2 MW to 9.8 MW, making it the largest operating Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) project in North America.
• The project is self-funded, reduces reliance on the BC Hydro grid with an annual average coefficient of performance (COP) over 300%, and is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 4,400 tonnes annually.

Key Details

• Project Scope: Supply and commissioning of five patented Sharc 880 systems.
• Capacity Increase: Expansion increased False Creek NEU capacity from 3.2 MW to 9.8 MW.
• Service Agreement: Sharc will service and maintain the systems for five years, with a City of Vancouver option for an additional five years.
• Efficiency Metrics: The system achieves an annual average coefficient of performance (COP) for generating heat of over 300%.
• Environmental Impact: Estimated carbon emission reduction of 4,400 tonnes per year.
• Service Area: The NEU serves over 1.9 million square metres of development in southeast False Creek, Mount Pleasant, the False Creek Flats, and Northeast False Creek.
• Financial Structure: The project is self-funded, providing affordable rates to customers and a return on investment to city taxpayers.
• Market Context: Sharc notes that developers are increasingly specifying Sharc technology as the basis of design across North America and globally, with several larger projects currently in development in the lower mainland of British Columbia.
• Legislative Landscape: Eleven U.S. states now have legislation allowing or mandating utilities to develop thermal energy network demonstration projects or pilots.

Notable Quotes

• Ken Sim, Mayor of Vancouver: "The False Creek neighbourhood energy utility is a great example of Vancouver's ingenuity -- we've literally turned raw sewage into an energy resource for the community... Energy that would have been wasted down the drain is now heating commercial and residential spaces in parts of our most densely populated neighbourhoods."
• Michael Albertson, President, CEO and Director of Sharc Energy: "The False Creek NEU sets the example for WET supported district energy systems and serves to educate and grow awareness about the renewable thermal energy opportunities contained within a forgotten resource-Wastewater... We are very excited for the future of WET."