Domtar Sustainability: More Renewable Energy for the Windsor Mill

Our mill in Windsor, Quebec, is on its way to becoming one of the largest private producers of renewable energy in the Eastern Townships region of the province with a second turbine generator scheduled for commissioning in 2017.

The mill is already generating steam and electricity from its current 32 megawatt (MW) turbine generator. Energy efficiency improvements and other operational changes have yielded enough spare capacity in the biomass boiler to allow the mill to take advantage of a renewable energy program launched by the provincial utility for Quebec’s forest industry.

THROUGH A $27 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECT, THE MILL WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL 18 MW OF GENERATION CAPACITY. THIS WILL BRING TOTAL CAPACITY TO 50 MW, THE EQUIVALENT ENERGY TO MEET THE ANNUAL ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION OF 12,800 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

The electricity from the new turbine will be sold into the provincial grid, providing an additional revenue stream for the mill. The mill will also gain efficiencies from the fuller utilization of its biomass boiler.

This project is also expected to stimulate the local forestry sector by increasing the Windsor Mill’s purchases of renewable biomass. Demonstrating its caring for the local community, the mill will implement measures to mitigate related noise and truck traffic issues ahead of the commissioning of the new turbine. By using energy efficient co-generation technologies to produce additional carbon-neutral electricity from renewable biomass, the Windsor Mill is taking another step in building its long-term future.

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Domtar’s 2017 Sustainability Report details the company’s endeavor to take a longer term view of creating and preserving value for our shareholders, customers, employees and communities.  For more inspiring stories about Domtar's sustainability efforts, visit the Domtar Newsroom. To view the full 2017 Sustainability Report click here.