from: http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/5682601-new-courtice-incinerator-hits-further-delays/

CLARINGTON — Clarington’s new energy-from-waste facility is going to be delayed a second time since the boilers aren’t operating properly and the continuing startup period could cost Durham Region an extra $1 million.

“I would rather see it delayed and done right than hurried,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.

The Durham York Energy Centre facility, located in Courtice, was scheduled to be fully operational on Dec. 14, 2014. Now the Durham York Energy Centre is not expected to be in full working order before the last quarter of 2015.

The significant systems of the EFW facility have been analyzed. The boiler temperature is high enough for the combustion process but the steam temperature isn’t high enough, and officials aren’t sure what the issue is, says Durham’s functions commissioner, Cliff Curtis.

The steam temperature has to be high enough to push the turbine-generator. If the steam is too cool it can damage the turbine.

“It’s like running a car without oil,” said Mr. Curtis.

Covanta, the company building and operating the facility for Durham and York regions, has taken the boilers down for modifications, according to Mr. Curtis. It’s expected to take three weeks to the repairs and modifications. Then there’ll be a four-week demonstration period, followed by a 30-day acceptance test.

“We’re not getting the temperature we expected from the boiler. Once we get the temperature up, I think everything will fall into place,” said Mr. Curtis. “It’s Covanta’s problem to provide us the product that performs the way they said, so they are going to take the time that they need.”

The delay means additional consultant costs for construction management, legal advice and baseline ambient air monitoring. A Durham Region works report stated Durham’s share of the extra costs is $1 million, which can be offered from a temporary draw the solid waste management reserve fund.

“What is the final price going to look like?” Stated Clarington Regional Councillor Joe Neal, who added that he still has concerns about the emissions fulfilling the Ministry of Environment rules. “There are clearly issues with getting it started out.”

Since Jan. 16, Durham has been charging Covanta a $10,000-a-day late fee for each day the EFW facility is not fully operational. The invoice has been delivered to Covanta, but it hasn’t been paid yet, according to Mr. Curtis.

In mid-February, the incinerator began burning its first haul of curbside garbage. It was part of a testing phase before the facility opens fully.

Durham cancelled landfill contracts and began sending garbage to the Courtice facility. Some garbage was burned at the EFW plant during the evaluation period, without producing power to the grid. Covanta has also been sending the trash to its incinerator in New York state, or landfills in the Niagara area.

Until the EFW facility is up and running, the Region only pays Covanta half price of the agreed upon per-tonne fee. However, Durham isn’t earning any money until the plant is fully operational and selling power back on the grid.

“We’re still on budget. I would rather be getting electricity sales on the grid,” said Mr. Curtis.

The plant construction is coming in slightly under budget, according to the functions commissioner.

There are a few loose ends that could end up costing Durham Region more cash. There is still debate with former property owners on the value of the land expropriated for the center, and a ruling is not expected until fall of next year. The final price for the utility construction and link costs is expected in coming months. The baseline ambient air monitoring runs until the EFW facility is operational, so the delay in opening signifies an ongoing monitoring price.

“There’s some small cost over-runs on some of the smaller things but generally we’re financially on track to bring this in on budget and we look forward to having it on line by the end of the year,” said Mr. Curtis.

HOW THIS IMPACTS YOU

The Durham York Energy Centre is designed to process up to 140,000 tonnes of waste every year, and create 17.5 gross megawatts of renewable energy — sufficient to power between 10,000 and 12,000 homes. A vital part of the economic situation for the energy-from-waste facility is dependent upon it generating electrical power revenue.

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