artist's rendering of proposed site
The Calgary District Energy project is a multi-phase project involving the development of a heat generating facility, the Calgary Downtown District Energy Centre, in the downtown core at 9th Avenue and 4th Street SE. The first phase of development is expected to provide heating to up to 10 million square feet of new and existing residential and commercial buildings. Construction of the Calgary Downtown District Energy Centre will start in September 2008 with commercial operation anticipated for late 2009.
District Energy provides heating through a network of underground insulated pipes and is more efficient than traditional heating systems which have separate boiler systems built into every building. Over time the Calgary District Energy system will connect additional facilities and introduce “waste heat” recovery into the system from electrical generation facilities currently in the planning stages.
The Calgary Downtown District Energy Centre and distribution system is located to service current municipal-owned buildings and selected future downtown buildings. This project is integral to the future development of the East Village which includes the development of buildings in the east section of Calgary’s downtown core.
The $31.8 million project is funded in partnership with the Governments of Canada and Alberta, and The City of Calgary. The project was made possible through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF). CAMRIF is a partnership among the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Over the programs' life, CAMRIF will direct at least $264 million in federal, provincial and municipal funding to enhance municipal infrastructure and improve Albertans' quality of life through investments that protect the environment and support long-term economic growth. For further information on CAMRIF, click here.