Exhaust streams can now be turned from waste into usable power thanks to ‘The Power Stack’.

Patented by 45 Innovations, this generator is one of the few alternative energy technologies to bypass the vagaries of Mother Nature, and first power generation system that utilizes existing waste streams or emissions and converts them to clean, stable, cost effective electricity.
“During the course of the last couple of years working with alternative energy and in the oilfield we discovered a need to kind of marry the two industries together, so we developed a generator that works much like a wind turbine only it doesn’t depend on wind, it depends on a exhaust stream,” said developer Drennen Hallett.
Every well site, lease site or facility that has an engine, motor or compressor can now transform the inevitable exhaust streams into usable energy.
Placed above the exhaust stream, The Power Stack creates electrical energy onsite that can then be used or sold back to the grid, depending on microgeneration. Wasted potential currently going up a stack everyday can be turned to productive use in an environmentally responsible manner.
“What we’re finding is that it’s reducing emissions. Some of the oilfield companies are able to shut off some of their diesel or natural gas generators that they were using to produce energy and now they’re producing it in a greener way so they’re saving money, saving maintenance, they’re improving the environment,” said Hallett.
“It’s eligible for carbon credits, it’s eligible for microgeneration status, so it’s a huge opportunity that I’m really excited about.”
Having worked with compressor stations, pulp mills, a sawmill, a gas plant, larger remote off-grid energy sites, as well as on-grid energy sites, the versatility of The Power Stack is quickly becoming apparent. While 45 Innovations has kept very quiet about this product until the last two months, they have been busy in the background ensuring that the product is ready for launching.
Restricted to industrial applications for now, the technology is subject to the same regulations as wind turbines or solar panels said Hallett. The Power Stack creates minimal back pressure – about what you would expect on a breezy day she explained – and creates no real impact on the efficiency of the equipment it’s operating in conjunction with.
At the moment the generators are being build to order. With sizes ranging from 5 kilowatts to 1 megawatt of power, depending on the specific site variables, there is a product, or combination of products to suit most purposes.
Costs start at $75,000 (typically installed) and the return on investment is anticipated to be less than five years – a good bet for most companies. In early use, that time was often reported to be significantly less.
“I would love to see this technology everywhere. At the moment we’re just in Alberta but we do plan on servicing BC. BC has a slightly more complicated regulatory system than Alberta does so it’s taking a bit of research,” said Hallett.
Not content to stop with industry, Hallett would like to have a similar product available for institutional or home use within the next few years.
Until then, there is no question that the cumulative impact of wide use of a product such as this could benefit both the environment and the companies that are using it. For more information on this product, visit www.thepowerstack.com.