The City of Prince George is receiving $3,259,518 in federal and provincial funding through the CleanBC Communities Fund to add a heat recovery system to the ammonia refrigeration plant at the Kin Centre Arenas, and upgrade the facility’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
The project includes the replacement of the refrigeration plant system to support ongoing use, recovering energy for reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing water and ammonia consumption, and improving the overall safety of arena operations. The City will be providing the remaining $1,185,482 to complete the project.
“I would like to thank the Province and the Government of Canada for this important investment in key infrastructure at the Kin Arenas,” said Andy Beesely, Director of Recreation and Events. “Ice usage in Prince George is at an all-time high and this investment will mean residents will have smooth running, low emission technology safely and efficiently running the facility, which will not only benefit Prince George residents, but the whole region.”
The Kin Centre Arenas are the city’s primary community arena facility located within Exhibition Park. Prince George functions, as the northern hub for sporting and entertainment events, and the Kin Centre Arena is the region’s premiere arena facility for tournament hosting with three ice sheets that accommodate various ice sports.
The Kin Centre Arena refrigeration plant system is near the end of its estimated service life resulting in lower efficiency with higher operating costs. A replacement of the system is also required to meet the current Technical Safety BC regulations for refrigeration plant systems stemming from the arena ammonia leak in 2017 in Fernie, BC.
This project will have several important benefits:
- Replace aging chiller equipment with newer, longer lasting models.
- Meet current safety recommendations set out by Technical Safety BC for ammonia refrigeration plant equipment.
- Reduce the ammonia charge by approximately 70 percent.
- Include a heat recovery system to capture and divert waste heat back into the facility offsetting natural gas consumption by 77 percent.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 73 percent.
- Reduce water consumption by an estimated 765,000 US gallons (equivalent to an Olympic-sized swimming pool).