Tent Mountain. (Image from Montem Resources)

By David Opinko

MOU signed to convert coal mine in Crowsnest Pass to renewable energy complex

Apr 19, 2022 | 12:40 PM

CROWSNEST PASS, AB – Montem Resources has officially announced plans to turn one of their historical coal mines into a facility that would generate multiple types of green energy.

The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with provincial crown corporation Invest Alberta, effective March 23, 2022.

The MOU will establish the Tent Mountain Renewable Energy Complex (TM-REX), what the company refers to as a “transformational clean energy project” with an estimated project life of at least 50 years.

Once completed, TM-REX will include a 320 megawatt pumped hydro energy storage facility, 100 megawatt green hydrogen electrolyser, and a 100 megawatt offsite wind farm.

Peter Doyle, Managing Director and CEO of Montem Resources, says the project has the potential to be a “paradigm shift for green energy in Alberta.”

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“The TM-REX will see the conversion of a coal mine into a renewable energy complex, with the ability to host Canada’s first large-scale green hydrogen electrolyser production facility. Tent Mountain’s ideal topography and location provides the opportunity to develop an outstanding renewable energy asset that will provide improved stability to Alberta’s electricity transmission system as the Province looks to further diversify its power grid to reliable, affordable and renewable energy sources.”

The company says TM-REX will create more than 200 temporary construction jobs and 30 full-time operations jobs.

Rick Christiaanse, CEO of Invest Alberta, adds that this initiative will boost both the economy and clean energy production.

“Alberta’s reputation as a reliable and sustainable global energy provider is making the province a destination of choice for green energy investment. We have seen a number of cleantech investments in Alberta recently, and it is encouraging to see investors focused on harnessing Alberta’s history of innovation to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

No firm timelines were provided as to when Montem Resources hopes to complete TM-REX.

The Tent Mountain mine is located approximately 51 km southwest of Blairmore and straddles the B.C.-Alberta border.

Coal mining at Tent Mountain has been done since the early 1900s. Montem Resources purchased the mine in 2016.

You can learn more about TM-REX on the Montem Resources website.

READ MORE: ‘Which thing to build?’: Montem Resources weighs coal mine versus hydrogen in Alberta