Dryden Recreation Centre

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 1 × C65 Grid Connect Capstone Microturbine (65 kW) with Dual Mode System Control (DMSC) & BAS integration
• Annual Generation: >500,000 kWh/year
• Energy Savings: ~$50,000 / year in total facility energy cost reductions
• Thermal Integration: 430,000 BTU/hr of recovered hot water for ice resurfacing and space heating


The Challenge
Located in a remote stretch of northwestern Ontario with a population of roughly 7,300 residents, the City of Dryden faces significant geographical isolation and harsh weather that makes winter transportation and grid access challenging. Dryden, Ontario, winters are long and frigid, with average mid-winter low temperatures dropping to around -20°C (-4°F) in January and extreme cold snaps frequently exceeding -30°C (-22°F).
Operating two full-sized ice rinks—including Arena 1, a 1,000-seat facility built in 1979, and Arena 2, built in 1988—the Dryden Recreation Centre serves as a critical community hub during these extreme winter months, but represents one of the city’s most energy-intensive municipal assets. High simultaneous demand for ice refrigeration, domestic hot water, and building heating left the facility vulnerable to escalating energy tariffs and regional grid disruptions. Supported by federal and provincial infrastructure investment, municipal leadership sought an efficient, low-maintenance energy solution to replace aging mechanical equipment, lower ongoing operating costs, and ensure reliable continuous operations despite difficult winter access.


The Solution
Veristar Energy engineered and installed a dual-mode 65 kW Combined Heat & Power (CHP) microturbine system integrated with the facility’s Building Automation System (BAS) and specialized control architecture.
• Onsite Baseload Power: Produces over 500 MWh of continuous electricity annually on-site, displacing high-cost utility grid purchases and lowering peak demand charges for the facility.
• Thermal Recovery for Ice & Heat: Captures high-grade exhaust heat in the form of hot water, supplying thermal energy directly for ice resurfacing, shower domestic hot water, and continuous facility heating during sub-zero cold snaps.
• Dual-Mode Resiliency: Operates seamlessly alongside the utility grid while providing automated island-mode backup during severe weather outages, protecting refrigeration loops and critical building systems when the area is difficult to reach.
• Modernized Facility Infrastructure: Directly replaces legacy heating equipment with an ultra-quiet, low-emission microturbine featuring a single moving part and zero oil or liquid coolants.


The Results
• $50,000 Annual Energy Savings: Significantly lowers municipal recreation operating expenditures, returning substantial financial value to local taxpayers.
• Expanded Regional Footprint: Joins successful Veristar Energy installations at Dryden High School and the Dryden Regional Health Centre, expanding clean CHP technology across key municipal infrastructure in the region.
• Critical Winter Protection: Guarantees thermal and power stability for a primary community gathering space during long, frigid winter periods.
• Low Carbon & Low Maintenance: Achieves high total system efficiency through heat recovery while minimizing ongoing routine maintenance requirements in a remote location.