What’s the deal with thermal energy networks?

By District Energy posted 09-11-2024 15:24

Recommend

Canadian Climate Institute

Summary

Not only is there a vast reservoir of heat right beneath our feet, but we also let vast amounts of heat escape that we’ve already gone to the trouble of generating. By building thermal energy networks that capture and circulate these abundant heat sources, Canada could affordably heat and cool its buildings without contributing to the overheating of the planet, all while taking the pressure off grid expansion.

Thermal energy networks are not new—they already meet about 3 per cent of Canada’s total heat demand—but they’ve seen renewed interest due to technological improvements, the imperative of addressing climate change, and the volatility of fossil fuel prices, so are becoming increasingly popular around the globe.

Natural-gas-fired boilers: In Markham, Ontario, a city-owned thermal energy utility, Markham District Energy, uses gas to power energy efficient boilers that produce and then distribute heat through underground piping, providing energy services to 240 buildings.
Lake water cooling: Elsewhere in Ontario, Enwave owns and operates the Deep Lake Water Cooling system, which uses water from Lake Ontario to moderate the temperature of connected buildings, avoiding 13,500 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. They are now expanding the system to cool more buildings within Toronto’s downtown core.
Waste heat from sewage: On the West Coast, False Creek Neighbourhood Energy heats over 13,000 homes and businesses in Vancouver and continues to expand, with heat from waste sewage providing 70 per cent of the overall energy needs of the system.
Biomass: Teslin in the Yukon uses low-grade wood waste from various sources for their district energy system powered by biomass boilers.