Delta council gave preliminary approval last week to a bylaw amendment that would allow greenhouses to add co-generation facilities to their operations.
Co-generation isn't permitted in Delta's agricultural zone, however, council has been considering applications on a case-by-case basis.
The first facility was built 12 years ago by Maxim Power at an 80th Street greenhouse currently owned by Village Farms, a facility that uses landfill gas as a heat source. It's only been in the last few years there's been more interest in adding alternative energy production plants, including natural gas powered co-generation facilities at greenhouses.
In the last three years Delta has had five co-generation applications that have been approved or are in the approval process. One of those is on Annacis Island, while the others are on agricultural land.
Co-generation involves using a combined heat and power engine to produce thermal and electric energy. Surplus electricity is sold on the grid to B.C. Hydro. The engines also release CO2 that can be captured and used as a fertilizer in greenhouses. Co-generation facilities are appealing to high-energy agricultural operators because of the reduced energy costs and increased availability of CO2.
The combined heat and power engines would not entirely replace natural gas boilers at greenhouses, though.
Planning director Jeff Day said the bylaw amendment is aimed at allowing co-generation as an accessory use by greenhouses to offset their energy costs and not for any farm property owner hoping to build one as a moneymaker.
The bylaw must still get the approval of the province, which is already looking into amending the Environmental Management Act to regulate smaller cogeneration plants, as well as the Agricultural Land Commission, which would still have the authority to deny applications.
