Image from TorchLight Bioresources during a presentation at Saint John Common Council
Saint John is working with two companies to explore the idea of a large-scale district energy system project.
Jamie Stephen with TorchLight Bioresources outlined the concept of a district energy system during Monday’s Common Council meeting.
“District energy is essentially having a central source of heat or cooling, and distribution of that energy through hot or cold water pipes through multiple buildings,” Stephen said.
“Think of it in terms of instead of everybody having their own water, well, and septic system, we have centralized water and waste-water treatment.”
“So, in the form of district energy, instead of every building having its own furnace or boiler, there’s a central boiler that supplies multiple buildings that distribute that energy,” added Stephen.
TorchLight, in partnership with and Rathco ENG, plan to seek funding from Natural Resources Canada to conduct a feasibility study for a district energy system project using local renewables and industrial waste bioheat from Irving Pulp and Paper.
The study would concentrate on a warm water heat network design for the south-central peninsula, including the uptown.
The feasibility study will consist of five major components:
- Community-wide Master Plan
- Class C engineering and costing of a district energy system covering the South Central Peninsula
- Community engagement plan and activities
- Triple Bottom Line project assessment, including multiple scenarios
- Heat utility business plan, including financial projections and ownership, financing, and operations
Common Council agreed to provide a letter of support to Natural Resources Canada to fund the proposed study.
For more information, CLICK HERE.
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