Dryden Regional Health Centre

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 4 × C65 Grid Connect Capstone Microturbines with controls
• Annual Generation: >2.0 Million kWh/year continuous power
• Energy Savings: ~$200,000 / year ($175,000 CAD/year) in reduced facility energy expenditures
• Thermal Integration: 1,720,000 BTU/hr (1.72 MMBtu/hr) of recovered hot water meeting 100% of heating needs for six months of the year


The Challenge
Located in a geographically isolated region of northwestern Ontario, Dryden Regional Health Centre (DRHC) has provided healthcare to the town of Dryden and surrounding rural communities since 1952. The 42-bed facility supports over 300 staff, physicians, and volunteers. Operating in a remote area presents severe environmental and operational risks: winters are long and extreme, with temperatures routinely plunging to -40°C (-40°F). In a critical care facility situated far from major urban emergency infrastructure, a loss of power or heating during a deep winter freeze would be catastrophic to patient safety and essential operations.
Compounding these environmental demands, DRHC faced severe financial pressure. Local electricity rates skyrocketed nearly 44% between 2012 and 2017, with additional provincial rate adjustments threatening to drive annual utility bills toward $500,000. Operating on tight rural healthcare budgets, hospital leadership required an onsite energy solution that would slash utility dependency, replace aging boiler equipment, and guarantee continuous, low-maintenance heat and power.



The Solution
Veristar Energy partnered with local engineering and construction teams to design and commission a 260 kW Combined Heat & Power (CHP) microturbine array, integrated directly into the hospital's thermal loops and electrical distribution.
• Onsite Baseload Generation: Generates over 2,000 MWh of continuous electricity annually on-site, displacing high-cost utility purchases and powering nearly 100% of the hospital throughout the winter.
• 100% Thermal Exhaust Recovery: Recovers 1.72 MMBtu/hr of thermal energy from exhaust gas, providing 100% of the facility’s heating requirements for six months of the year and eliminating reliance on legacy boilers.
• High Efficiency & Resilience: Reaches up to 80% total system efficiency while alleviating grid strain on a remote transmission corridor.
• Remote Monitoring & Factory Protection: Supported by a 15-year service contract and 24/7 remote monitoring, providing real-time system tracking and fixed lifecycle costs crucial for a remote, difficult-to-reach facility.
• Incentive Optimization: Leveraged a $263,000 financial incentive from the IESO Save on Energy Program to accelerate full project payback.


The Results
• $200,000 Annual Bottom-Line Savings: Reduces recurring electricity costs by over 50%, freeing up vital operational capital for direct patient care and medical resources.
• 8,000+ Hours of Continuous Operation: Proved immediate reliability in its first year, maintaining uninterrupted heat and baseload power through extreme sub-zero winter cycles.
• Significant Emissions Reduction: Maximizes fuel efficiency through localized heat recovery, drastically lowering facility carbon emissions.
• Regional Clean Energy Leadership: Expands Veristar Energy's proven municipal footprint in Dryden alongside successful installations at Dryden High School and the Dryden Recreation Centre.


"If it was not for the cogeneration project, we would be paying our previous utility rate... which was approaching the half million dollar mark."
— Austin Madussi, Director of Facilities, Dryden Regional Health Centre