2825737 Ontario Inc. as general partner on behalf of SBE Limited Partnership - Renewable energy approval

SBE Limited Partnership owns the Elmira Anaerobic Digestion Facility located at 50 Martin's Lane, Elmira, Ontario. The existing facility breaks down organic waste through anaerobic (oxygen free environment) digestion to create biogas which is used to produce 2.85 megawatts (MW) of electricity and 3.02 MW of heat.

The anaerobic digestion facility was issued a renewable energy approval (REA No. 6428-8LGLBH) on March 26, 2012, and began operating in March 2014.

Proposed amendments

The ministry has received an application from SBE Limited Partnership’ to amend their renewable energy approval for the following:

Increase in annual tonnage

To increase the permitted annual tonnage of the facility from 110,000 to 220,000 tonnes of organic waste per year.

The facility’s infrastructure will be expanded to increase organic waste storage and processing capacity on site. The additional incoming organic waste will be used to produce an increased volume of biogas to generate renewable natural gas.

Biogas at the facility is currently used to operate a combined heat and power engine to produce up to 2.85 MW of electricity and 3.02 MW of heat. There is no change to the maximum electricity production as part of this amendment.

Although the increased incoming organic waste volume requested will increase the incoming and outgoing truck traffic at the facility from approximately 20 to a maximum of 45 vehicle movements per day, this amendment does not seek any changes to the currently approved maximum of 160 truck movements per day.

New organic waste storage and processing infrastructure

SBE Limited Partnership is proposing to add the following organic waste storage and processing infrastructure:

• One new organic waste receiving and pre-processing building consisting of the following:
  • Organic waste pre-processing equipment,
  • 5 combined liquid storage and hydrolysis tanks with a total volume of 3,730 cubic metres,
  • One new solid waste receiving pit with volume of 1,200 cubic metres, and
  • One odour control system consisting of negative pressure ventilation and a photoionization system
• Two new anerobic digesters each with a volume of 5,160 cubic metres
• One new digestate storage tank with a volume of 5,950 cubic metres
• One emergency flare
• One weigh scale

The new organic waste storage and processing volume on site will be increased from existing 12,910 cubic metres by 21,200 cubic metres for a new total volume of 34,110 cubic metres.

Addition of renewable natural gas upgrading system and injection station

To build a new renewable natural gas upgrading system at the facility to produce and inject up to 1,600 cubic metres per hour renewable natural gas via the proposed-on site natural gas injection station to be operated by Enbridge Gas.

Expand facility footprint, secondary containment and associated stormwater management system

To expand the facility property to the east by adding approximately 2 hectares to the already developed 1.5 hectares, which will be used primarily for the new organic waste processing and storage infrastructure and renewable natural gas upgrading system and injection station. Total area of the facility is 3.7 hectares.

The 2 anaerobic digesters and 1 digestate storage tank will be constructed in the eastern expanded footprint within a secondary containment system. Stormwater runoff generated from the proposed development will be collected and discharged to a new stormwater management pond that will provide secondary containment, quality and quantity control. This stormwater management pond will discharge to a municipal/agricultural drain that ultimately discharges to Cox Creek.