Cat CG260 Generator Sets Selected to Power District Energy Projects
Caterpillar Inc. has announced that it has been selected to provide two cogeneration plants to Markham District Energy Inc. (MDE), an energy company owned by the City of Markham, Ontario, Canada. Local Cat dealer Toromont will be supplying a CG260-12 generator set for the MDE Birchmount Energy Centre, a CG260-16 generator set for the Bur Oak Energy Centre and ancillary electrical and mechanical equipment for both sites. The CG260 generator sets will provide a combined 7 MW of electricity and 7MW of thermal energy to the Markham district energy systems. These projects will be the first in North America that will employ Caterpillar’s recently introduced CG260 Series of high efficiency gas generator sets.
MDE was established in 1999 to develop best-in-class district energy systems for Markham’s developing urban centers. Produced at central plants, heated and chilled water is distributed throughout the community via underground thermal distribution systems. To dramatically increase efficiency and reduce emissions, MDE has deployed an aggressive combined-heat-and-power (CHP) strategy (also referred to as cogeneration, the simultaneous production of electrical and thermal energy from a single fuel source) using state-of-the-art reciprocating engine generator set and heat recovery technology. CHP is widely recognized as a highly efficient and socially responsible way of meeting a community’s energy needs.