Fort Frances could be one step closer to a backup microgrid in the case of a major outage with the possibility for a biomass generation facility, according to Infrastructure and Growth Manager Travis Rob.
The town and the Fort Frances Power Corporation (FFPC) initially began looking into a backup solution in the event of a major outage energy in 2023. This came with a feasibility study that analyzed how the hydroelectric dam, solar and battery energy storage systems could be utilized to meet this goal, said
“If something happened to the transmission lines that bring power to us, and they were severed so we no longer had power coming to us, we would have local generation of suitable capacity so that we could keep the lights on within the community, the hotels full, the restaurants operating and the hospital operating,” Rob said. “Everything as if it’s just another day.”
At the time, biomass was dismissed due to the high costs associated with initiating a facility. However, in 2025 the town, in partnership with AUX Energy, applied for funding through the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to actually look closely at a biomass facility’s feasibility and develop cost models. When funding was received, Mitigokaa Development Corporation was brought on to review the project, as they have plants in various stages of design and construction, and a better understanding of actual costs for development.
“Our goal really hasn’t changed,” Rob said. “We still want to have that local generation backbone here to support the community, support growth, support redundancy in power supply and resiliency in our power system. Biomass power production ticks all of those boxes.
If the town decides to move forward with biomass energy production, it would be just one aspect of this backup microgrid, along with the hydroelectric dam and solar power; however, it would be the most crucial aspect, generating the most energy in this backup system.
How biomass energy actually works, in simplest terms, is from a facility that generates renewable energy derived from organic materials.
The former pulp and paper mill in Fort Frances had a biomass to energy facility as a component to its operation. This was in the form of a steam plant, whereas the new facility under debate would be an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) facility.
“The difference between a steam development and an ORC development is that steam operates under high temperature and high pressure,” Rob said. “An ORC plant utilizes different fluids with different thermal properties to turn heat from burning wood biomass into energy by way of spinning a turbine.
“An ORC plant is considered low temperature and low pressure.”
Rob said this makes byproducts easier to measure and doesn’t result in a large steam exhaust into the atmosphere.
Because an ORC plant runs at much lower temperature and pressure levels, staffing requirements are significantly more affordable than a steam facility.
“You can operate that plant with less manpower cost associated with it,” Rob said. “You don’t need to have staff there 24/7. You don’t have to have highly ticketed, highly certified staff to operate it who come at a high cost, so it changes the financial picture quite a bit.”
Whether or not a microgrid will be moved ahead with depends completely on the next term of council. The decision will come after the new council has had time to look over the details and weigh the costs to operate the facility.
Outgoing Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas felt strongly that the microgrid and biomass energy facility were a positive turn for future economic development and advised the next group of councillors to take it into consideration.
“This is probably the beginning of the economic future of Fort Frances,” Hallikas said. “I can’t emphasize how important it is, and I really feel strongly that if it’s your will, that this council should endorse this report and pass it on to the next council for their consideration.”
The next term of council is inaugurated on Nov. 16, with their first regular meeting the following Monday on Nov. 23.
