Build & Grow

INDUSTRIAL

Waste Heat

Poplar River Power Station waste heat can be used in a number of contexts that assist companies with lowering key business costs:

• Industrial Manufacturing / Chemical Manufacturing – Heat for reactors, distillation, or drying processes. Textiles – Dyeing and finishing fabrics require significant steam/heat. Metal Processing – Preheating metals before rolling or forging. Heat treatment of steel or aluminum.
• Bioenergy and Resource Recovery / Anaerobic Digestion – waste heat can maintain mesophilic or thermophilic temperatures in digesters for biogas production. Composting / Biomass Drying – Drying wood chips, straw, or other biomass for energy or animal bedding.
• Industrial Drying and Dehydration / Paper, Cement, Clay, or Ceramics – Many processes require large amounts of low- to medium-temperature heat. Agricultural Products – Drying grains, oilseeds, or pulses before storage or processing.
• Emerging / Niche Applications / Data Centres: using low-grade heat in absorption cooling systems. Carbon Capture / Chemical Loops: process heat for CO² capture or synthetic fuel production.

Fly Ash

Fly ash is generated from the combustion of coal at the Poplar River Power Station – presenting a circular economy opportunity to extend the economic value chain. Fly ash typically contains silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), iron oxide (Fe2O3), and calcium oxide (CaO) — many of the same compounds found in Portland cement – and is therefore often recycled into cement, concrete, road base, and other construction materials.

AGRICULTURE

Greenhousing

The Town of Coronach wishes to work with SaskPower and a third party to establish the largest greenhousing operation in Saskatchewan that leverages the Poplar River Power Station generation of significant waste heat. The Town of Coronach estimates heat generation/greenhousing operation sizing as follows:

Gross electrical capacity of 582 MW.

Assuming approximately 80% of this energy is converted to heat and 90% of that heat is recoverable, the estimated usable waste heat is: Hourly Output: 419 kW.

Pulses

Coronach value proposition: Access to significant pulse production in the area; Potential spur line access (industrial land) to rail; Low business costs; Local energy and water reservoir access; Access to key export routes – facilitating trade with international markets.

Saskatchewan is a leading producer of pulses, including peas, lentils, and chickpeas. Government of Saskatchewan goal: process 50% of Saskatchewan pulse crops within the province.

The Saskatchewan Value-Added Agriculture Incentive offers a 15% tax rebate on capital expenditures for new or expanded facilities.

Flax Straw Collection Point/Processing

The Town of Coronach & RM of Hart Butte BDO Zone for Flax Straw is rated ‘A’ or low risk, for 55,000 ODMT/yr of Flax Straw at a price of $65 – $85/ODMT delivered. The long-term outlook on price and quantity is deemed stable. Key scale-up risks can likely be addressed with reasonable mitigation measures.

ENERGY

Renewables

Coronach – Southern Springs Solar Energy Facility announced. 100 MW (approx. 2% of Saskatchewan electricity generation). 515 acres. 8 km SE of Coronach, in RM of Hart Butte. Estimated Construction 2027. Employees: 80 FT construction, estimated 10 FT operational. Company: Potentia Renewables Canada Holdings LP, an affiliate of Potentia Renewables Inc.

Resource advantage: Southern Saskatchewan has one of Canada’s strongest solar irradiation profiles and solid wind resource areas — this increases annual energy production per MW and improves project economics.

Conventional

While recognizing conversion cost and comparative alternatives, the Town of Coronach is a strong advocate for coal end-of-life power plant conversion to a natural gas facility or a small modular nuclear reactor facility as the value chain heart of its Southern Saskatchewan Energy Centre vision.

HOUSING

Modular/Ready to Move (RTM)

Coronach currently has a housing supply challenge. Further employment growth will generate housing demand. Given smaller population and more remote location, contractor builders are less available.

Coronach wishes to establish relationships with/socialize local opportunities with residents/employers with modular builders in Saskatchewan. Modular/RTM companies operating in/delivering to Saskatchewan include but are not limited to: Verity Homes, J&H Homes, SK2 Custom Homes, Zak’s Homes & Cottages, and ARC Modular & Construction Ltd.

GENERAL

The following have been identified by local residents/businesses as enterprise opportunities:

• Ag retailer (one existing – Richardson Pioneer)
• Accommodations
• Private Health Services
• A unique retailer