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B.C. funding expansion of green district heating solution in Vancouver

The False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility uses waste thermal energy captured from sewage to provide space heating and hot water to buildings.

September 2, 2020  By Energy Manager Canada


sewage(City of Vancouver)

The governments of Canada and British Columbia have announced  new funding for 11 green infrastructure projects, part of the first intake of the CleanBC Communities Fund, which committed more than $63 million in joint federal-provincial funding.

Along with more than 80 new Level-2 electric vehicle charging stations across the province, in Vancouver, the Sewage Heat Recovery Expansion Project will receive funding to build out and increase the capacity of the Neighbourhood Energy Utility (NEU) district energy program to provide buildings in the False Creek area with low-carbon heat and hot water.

The NEU recycles waste heat and uses a mix of renewable and conventional natural gas to provide the heating.

“Nearly 60% of carbon pollution created in Vancouver comes from burning natural gas to heat our buildings and provide hot water,” said Kennedy Stewart, Mayor of Vancouver in a media release. “This investment from our provincial and federal partners will help us greatly expand the Neighbourhood Energy Utility to reduce our carbon footprint even further.”

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The False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility uses waste thermal energy captured from sewage to provide space heating and hot water to buildings in Southeast False Creek, parts of Mount Pleasant, False Creek Flats, and the Northeast False Creek neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

The recycled energy eliminates more than 60% of the greenhouse gas pollution associated with heating buildings.

The utility began operations in 2010 and has expanded to serve 5,750,000 sq. ft. of residential, commercial, and institutional space as of 2019. Once the expansion area is fully built-out, the NEU expects to serve 22,600,000 sq. ft. and anticipates a 14,000 tonne reduction of CO2-equivalent per year.

Waste is a Resource – Week 3 from Shortt and Epic on Vimeo.

 


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