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Renewable Energy & Emerging Technologies

At Enbridge, we believe in doing our part to contribute to the future by investing in renewable and alternative energy sources that complement our core operations and provide environmental benefits, thus helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the issue of global climate change.

Solar Energy

Enbridge recently announced it will develop a 20 megawatt (MW) solar energy project near Sarnia, Ontario.

The Sarnia Solar Project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and be the largest photovoltaic solar energy facility in operation in Canada and one of the largest in North America. At 20 MW, the project will generate enough power to meet the needs of about 3,200 homes and help to save approximately 6,600 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Subject to certain conditions, Enbridge may participate with First Solar in future solar energy projects at the Sarnia site.

Wind Energy

Enbridge owns a 100% working interest in the 190-megawatt Ontario Wind Power project. Located in Bruce County, Ontario, it is the second largest wind farm in Canada. Enbridge Income Fund owns interests in two wind farms in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan. These four wind power projects have a combined capacity of more than 260 megawatts, our share of which is enough green energy to provide 35% of our total Canadian crude oil mainline power consumption.

Fuel Cell Power Plant

In 2008, Enbridge officially launched the world’s first hybrid fuel cell power plant that is designed for gas utility pressure reduction stations. The plant converts unused pipeline energy, a byproduct of distributing natural gas to customers, into ultra-clean electricity. Built on approximately 22 parking spots in the company’s parking lot, the fuel cell operates without burning any fuel to produce about 2.2 megawatts of environmentally preferred, near zero-emissions electricity—enough to serve about 1,700 Ontario homes.

Enbridge has exclusive North American distribution rights for the hybrid fuel cell technology. We plan to replicate the plant throughout our distribution network in Ontario and market the hybrid fuel cell to other natural gas pipeline companies in North America.

Waste Heat Recovery

Enbridge Income Fund has a 50% investment in NRGreen which operates four non-regulated waste heat recovery facilities located in Saskatchewan along the Alliance Pipeline. Electricity is generated by harnessing the waste heat produced by Alliance Canada's gas turbines at its compressor stations and converting it to electrical energy. Each of the four units produce approximately 5 megawatts (MW) of power – enough energy to power the equivalent of approximately 5,000 homes.

CO₂ Capture, Pipelining and Sequestration

Enbridge is involved in two initiatives in Canada that are investigating the feasibility of the long-term commercial sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in deep saline aquifers.

CO₂ capture, pipelining and sequestration developments are widely considered to be one of the most immediate, feasible and meaningful ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a large scale and address the challenges posed by climate change.

Enbridge is leading a consortium of 38 energy industry participants in the Alberta Saline Aquifer Project (ASAP), and we are one of five participants in the Saskatchewan Aquistore project, which is managed by the Petroleum Technology Research Centre.

These initiatives will play a major role in advancing industry and government’s knowledge of CO₂ capture and sequestration.

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