Talking about a revolution.

  • Cogeneration is a revolutionary new way to supply power, for everyday consumption and in case of emergency.

WHAT IS COGENERATION?

For years, condo residents across the Greater Toronto Area have looked for a solution to skyrocketing utility costs and extended power outages, which have become increasingly common.

The answer? Let Rikos help you ditch the grid by installing a cogeneration solution in your building.

These custom-engineered, natural gas powered reciprocating engine generators, located on-site, are capable of handling nearly the entire electrical load of your building. Besides power production, these natural gas generators are combined heat and power (CHP) systems. Heat, as a byproduct of power generation, is recovered and used to heat water and space in your building.

The generators provide you with power when you need it most—even when your neighbours are left in the dark. Our generators provide sustained occupancy for residents in the case of extended outages, when power is most vital.

WHY NATURAL GAS?

Many Ontario condominiums already use natural gas or diesel generators to generate emergency backup power. Because of pollution created during the burning of diesel fuel, however, diesel generators are not used as a constant source of power. Rikos Energy installs natural gas reciprocating engines that emit virtually no pollution and are used to replace electricity otherwise supplied by the municipal power grid.

WHY RECIPROCATING ENGINES?

Large-scale, stationary reciprocating engines are used across the globe to generate electricity in high rise buildings. They are nearly two-times more efficient at converting natural gas to consumable electricity than any alternative. The highly-efficient natural gas reciprocating engines provided by Rikos are quiet, low-emission and interconnected with existing electrical and mechanical infrastructure. Reciprocating engines maintain an 85 percent efficiency rating, producing up to 90 percent of a building’s electrical requirements.

We’re in this together.

  • Move toward a bright future with a budget-friendly service agreement and unparalleled maintenance plan.

PUTTING THE POWER IN YOUR HANDS

Capital projects are difficult to fund. But Rikos empowers condo stakeholders to generate their own energy, within their own building. We make it easy, by eliminating the upfront capital costs from the equation.

Through our Energy Service Agreement (ESA), Rikos becomes your one-stop shop for power. Pay us monthly for electricity; realize full ownership of your very-own generator in as little as 12 years, with absolutely no money down.

But your residents won’t have to wait to save. Rikos guarantees savings of at least 10 percent toward electricity each month while under the ESA.

Sound easy? That’s because it is. After all, Rikos puts the power in your hands.

WE WORK SO YOU CAN REST ASSURED

Rikos Energy technicians ensure your generator produces the power you need 24 hours each day, seven days each week. Regularly performed maintenance ensures your generator performs as well as it does upon transfer of ownership as it did the way it was installed.

Our unmatched maintenance program includes the penchant for perfection that’s come to be expected from Rikos. It includes scheduled inspections and lubrication, systematic performance evaluations and replacement of parts experiencing wear over time.

Each one of our licensed technicians is trained directly by generator manufacturers. Our techs are experts with an intimate understanding of each mechanical component in the generators we install. Rest easy, knowing your investment is looked after by qualified professionals.

A breath of fresh air.

  • With Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, Rikos offers a cogeneration solution you can feel good about.

NATURALLY EFFICIENT

Natural gas-powered reciprocating engines emit virtually no pollution and displace electricity that would otherwise be supplied through the existing municipal power grid. You can feel good about this green energy source, while setting a strong example for neighbours who use diesel generators, which burn diesel fuel and produce pollution, for emergency power.

Natural gas-powered generators maximize efficiency by producing ‘recoverable heat’ that can be utilized for space heating and hot water heating within your building. This approach, called Combined Heat and Power (CHP), means that nearly 100 per cent of the engine’s output is utilized, saving money and energy.

That means the same engine that powers your resident’s reading lamp also keeps their toes warm and their hot cocoa steaming. It also means residents can feel content knowing they are saving money and the planet.

CHP: A CASE STUDY

A 14,000-kilogram container hoisted 25 storeys above Toronto marked a major milestone for Rikos and the residents of 65 Spring Garden Ave., where the company installed its first CHP system in December 2017.

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ANSWERS

Is electricity really becoming more expensive in Ontario? If so, why?

According the the Ontario Energy Board, mid-peak electricity prices increased from 8 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 11.2 cents per kWh between 2008 and 2014. This equates to a 40 percent increase, or 6.7 percent year over year.

So, in short, electricity is definitely becoming more expensive. Big time.

But why?

With increasing pressure to look to more earth-friendly energy sources, the province has sought out electricity from solar and wind power, which costs three to five times as much to produce as water or nuclear power.

Additionally, non-profit hydro utilities once owned by the province have been privatized, and those companies profit from increasing electricity bills.

What does combined heat and power (CHP) mean?

Combined heat and power, or CHP, is the very essence of cogeneration. What generates power, also generates heat. The natural-gas powered reciprocating engines that will power your building exhaust heat as they produce electricity. That heat is then harnessed, to be used for both space and water heating within your building.

Are there other options other than natural gas-powered reciprocating engines?

Aside from reciprocating engines, micro-turbines have also been used for generating electricity and heat.

Why does Rikos prefer reciprocating engines over micro-turbines?

Reciprocating engines are roughly 25 to 40 percent efficient in converting natural gas to electricity, while micro-turbines are about 20 to 30 percent efficient in their conversion. When looking at overall efficiency, micro-turbines are slightly more efficient at converting gas to heat, and so both types of generators reach 70 to 90 percent efficiency all told.

But Rikos wants to save you money.

With heat only required part-time, building residents will notice more savings when their electricity, rather than their heating, is most reduced. So, the choice to use reciprocating engines becomes an easy one.

Reciprocating engines are in fact louder than micro-turbines.

But don’t worry, you’ll never know it.

That’s because Rikos technicians conduct a thorough evaluation of your building’s infrastructure before installation, which occurs in a location determined to cause minimal disruption. Further, the generator is housed in a soundproof chamber and mounted on shock absorbers that make it virtually impossible to hear, no matter what floor you live on.

How long will the generator last?

Rikos performs systematic maintenance on every generator installed, ensuring that it not only lasts the 12 years required before transfer of ownership, but at least an additional eight years after that.

How soon can a generator be installed in my building?

From our first meeting to the moment your building begins to generate its own power, a year might pass.

Why so long?

Application and wait times to obtain approval for provincial energy grants vary. But during that period, our dedicated professionals will outline the Energy Service Agreement program and evaluate the building’s existing infrastructure to ensure a seamless transition when it comes time to install.