The University of Windsor is partnering with the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) and Kruger Energy to investigate using existing wind farms to power and heat greenhouses in Southwestern Ontario.

Dubbed the HIGH Energy project, short for the Hydrogen Integrated Greenhouse Horticultural Energy project, the new joint venture proposes using wind turbines to generate clean electricity and hydrogen for use in the area’s multi-billion-dollar greenhouse sector.

“Farmers are looking to expand operations and increase their access to low carbon energy solutions,” said Aaron Coristine, OGVG’s manager of science, regulatory affairs, and government relations. “This joint venture will construct pathways to achieve this with novel adaptations of clean, proven energy technologies.”

Southwestern Ontario boasts the highest concentration of greenhouses in North America. The greenhouse sector has been rapidly growing, but further expansion is thwarted by a lack of locally available energy. Wind farms already standing in the area could provide a solution, delivering electricity and hydrogen directly to greenhouses.

Kruger Energy currently generates 200 megawatts of wind energy in Southwestern Ontario, which is enough to potentially power approximately 60,000 homes.

“We’re pleased at the prospect of an additional market for our product,” said JJ Davis, Kruger Energy’s general manager of Canadian operations.

“Kruger is a leader in sustainability and strategic asset management which will enable us to reliably supply clean energy to the vegetable greenhouse sector with our long-established wind farms.”

The project proposes building a commercial facility that takes locally captured wind energy, turning it into electricity and hydrogen for greenhouses that grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, and other crops. The first step of the project is to do the economic and regulatory modeling to make the business case for the venture.

“There will be a number of firsts in this project,” said Rupp Carriveau (BASc 1994), an engineering professor and director of the Environmental Energy Institute at the University of Windsor, who is leading the modelling efforts.

“We anticipate a lot of learning in both the engineering and policy spaces,” he said. “The HIGH Energy project excites us. Using proven existing assets in a new way to improve things or solve a problem, sounds practical and resourceful. We love solutions like that.”

This project aligns with the direction of senior levels of government in meeting the energy and food needs of communities across the province and country.

—Sarah Sacheli

Being Canadian-born, she knows only what her parents taught her about her Chinese-Vietnamese heritage, says Siu Ling Le, marketing co-ordinator in Continuing Education.

She is happy that being fluent in Cantonese has enabled her to enjoy Chinese music and movies. Among her favourites, Le lists Canto-pop artists Jacky Cheung and Hacken Lee, and the Hong Kong action-thriller Infernal Affairs, remade as Hollywood’s Oscar-winning The Departed.

“I would encourage others to check out the original starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung, who was also cast in the recent Shang-Chi,” she enthuses.

Le’s parents overcame many challenges immigrating to Canada with Le’s two older sisters in the late 1970s, from staying in refugee camps to the family being separated for a long period of time. Visiting Vietnam for the first time at the age of 15, she met members of her extended family as well as her mother’s best friend.

“I was able to learn about the place my parents called home for most of their life and was able to experience their way of life. They all welcomed me as if they had known me since birth,” she recalls. “I realized at that time that home is truly wherever family is.”

Le says that her campus colleagues have made her feel safe in raising ideas without judging her based on her ethnicity.

“I also appreciate the continued efforts made by the University to recognize equity, diversity, and inclusion as an integral part of building an inclusive community, with the goal of being a progressive, innovative, and forward-thinking organization,” she says.

This is the third in a series of articles featuring voices from members of the UWindsor community in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. The 2022 theme “Continuing a legacy of greatness” is a reminder for all Canadians to come together to combat anti-Asian racism and discrimination in all its forms.

A tour last week by international agents representing the University of Windsor and St. Clair College provided them with a chance to get a real sense of the schools, meet the people who support their work, and build personal relationships, trust, and brand loyalty.

Seventy agents from 20 countries attended the International Agent Familiarization Tour (FAM Tour), May 9 to 12, enabling them to better promote the institutions and the region by saying: “I’ve been there.”

“Agents fulfil several responsibilities in providing support for international applicants to the University,” says Chris Busch, associate vice-president, enrolment management. These supports include counselling students through the application process, assisting in preparing their documents, and actively promoting the institution abroad.

“We are observing an increasingly competitive landscape emerging post-COVID, therefore, these partners are essential to share our story on the global stage.” 

Agents visited teaching and research facilities, toured the City of Windsor, and met with representatives from both institutions providing a first-hand experience of the University and college and highlighting the many opportunities that Windsor offers international students.

The second annual Twitter-based Graduate Showcase will highlight the scholarly activity of UWindsor grad students Wednesday, May 18.

Masters and doctoral candidates are invited to tweet, in any format, a summary of their work for glory and prizes, judged by the executive of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

To see submissions, check out the hashtag #UWINGradShowcase Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon.