City of Saskatoon North Downtown District Energy Feasibility Study

The City of Saskatoon will study the feasibility of installing a district energy system (DES) in its North Downtown area as an efficient, low-carbon energy heating source for most, if not all, of the buildings in the area. This study is based on results of a previous city-wide study that examined location options for the project (GMF 10251). The study will assess the technical and financial feasibility, as well as the environmental, social, and economic impacts of replacing existing heating systems with natural gas combined heat and power (CHP). The city will consider potential district energy system models and building connections for the 240 acres identified in the North Downtown Master Plan and will prioritize municipal government owned buildings as start-up clients, such as the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre, Saskatoon Police Headquarters, City Hall, and the Francis Morrison Library. The city will also study the potential to use deep well ground source heating and waste heat from the Queen Elizabeth Power Station. The study will involve a public and stakeholder engagement process, including four creative ‘Community Conversations’, several deeper dialogue workshops with key stakeholder groups and youth engagement through social media. A DES in North Downtown Saskatoon has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 2,000 tonnes C02 equivalent/year if heated by natural gas boilers and by as much as 15,000 tonnes C02 equivalent/year if power is generated through CHP units. As such, this project supports the objectives of Saskatoon’s Energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management Plan, which was supported by FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF 7245) and fulfills the Partners for Climate Protection program’s milestone three requirements. DES natural gas boilers and CHP technology are proven innovations used throughout the world; however, the approach is new to Saskatchewan. The study will complement the ongoing implementation of sustainable design principles in the city’s downtown core, and other municipalities in the region will benefit from opportunities to apply knowledge gained in Saskatoon to their communities. (Project description from original funding application)