IREQ and GreenField Ethanol

1st stop
Hydro-Québec’s Research Institute: World-Class laboratories

Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ) just turned 40 in 2010. To celebrate this milestone, the institute is opening its doors so that you can join the celebration with a must-see visit! Recognized the world over for its cutting-edge expertise and advanced technological developments in energy-related fields, IREQ’s high-tech facilities are as impressive as they are productive.

Discover IREQ’s state-of-the-art laboratories where scientists develop and test materials for the production of lithium-ion batteries, which hold great promise for use in plug-in electric vehicles. You can then make your way to our power system simulation facilities, including our high-performance computation centre. Researchers use these sophisticated tools to perform real-time simulations of various phenomena that may occur on transmission systems, and to test control and protection systems prior to their deployment on the power grid.

To solve problems related to inspection and maintenance in harsh environments, while increasing the availability of equipment and improving worker safety, the institute is working on advanced robotics technologies. Your visit to the institute will take you to the testing lab, where you can see two robots in action. Fascinating!

You will also be amazed by the high-voltage laboratory, one of North America’s leading testing centres for high-voltage lines and equipment. Transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, insulators, surge arresters and reactors can all be tested there.
Before you begin your tour of our facilities, a short presentation will help you better understand just what this world-renowned electricity research centre does.

Don’t miss this great opportunity!

Departure: 09:00 from Hall Jean-Paul Riopelle, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Travel time : 30 min
Visit begins at 9:30
Duration of visit : 2:30
French/English
Lunch provided

Departure for Greenfield Ethanol : 13:00
Travel time : 20 min

2nd stop
GreenField Ethanol, Varennes : One the top producers in North America (Varennes Distillery)

In operation since March 2007, the Varennes Distillery ranks among the most efficient plants in North America. This world class facility, designed with the latest available industrial scale technologies, Varennes can boast an exceptional environmental footprint due mainly to the recycling of process waste water and recovery of heat from the thermal oxidizer to generate the steam that drives the distillation process. Life cycle analysis indicates a GHG reduction of 2kg/L of ethanol versus conventional gasoline. Future development of the site will involve integration of anaerobic digestion into the existing platform, and thermochemical and biochemical technologies operating in synergy with one another.

Visit begins at 13:30
Duration of visit : 2:00
French/English
Return Palais des congrès : 16:00

Depending on the number of participants for this circuit, visits to both sites may start simultaneously.  Both sites have luncheon facilities.