Ottawa Construction News Staff
A groundbreaking sewage energy system is set to provide sustainable heating and cooling for a major new development at LeBreton Flats, marking a first for the city.
The LeBreton Community Utility Partnership, a joint venture between Envari Holding Inc. (a subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.) and Theia Partners, has formalized an agreement with the City of Ottawa to implement an advanced Sewage Energy Exchange System (SEES).
The first customer for this system will be Odenak, a 608-unit, two-tower mixed-use project at 665 Albert St., located near the Pimisi LRT station. The development is a partnership between Dream Unlimited Corp., Dream Impact Trust, and Multifaith Housing Initiative.
“This partnership demonstrates how we can use existing infrastructure in new and innovative ways to reduce emissions and support sustainable growth in our communities of the future,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said Wednesday (May 7) in a statement. “By turning wastewater into clean, efficient energy, we’re taking a practical step that shows what’s possible when innovation meets sustainability in city building.”
The SEES will utilize Canadian technology from SHARC Energy Systems, employing heat pumps to harness thermal energy from wastewater. The system operates entirely without fossil fuels. Construction to connect to the City’s sewer infrastructure is planned to begin later this year.
Bryce Conrad, president and CEO of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc., called the project “a testament to Ottawa’s dedication to leading the way in sustainable energy solutions.” He added, “Hydro Ottawa is proud to be at the forefront of this innovation… We are especially pleased that this project supports vital affordable housing and aligns with our commitment to ensuring all customers can participate in a smart and equitable energy future.”
Once completed, the SEES is expected to provide over 9 MW of heating and cooling capacity for approximately 2.4 million sq. ft. of development. The LeBreton Community Utility estimates this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5,066 tonnes annually – equivalent to the electricity used by 3,387 homes for a full year.
“Our SEES technology, powered by SHARC’s Canadian innovation, will provide reliable, efficient, and environmentally responsible thermal energy to the LeBreton community, starting with Dream’s Odenak development,” stated Scott Demark, Partner at Theia Partners.
Odenak, which will feature market-rate and affordable residential units as well as retail spaces, is anticipated to welcome its first residents in 2027. It will utilize approximately one-third of the SEES system’s total capacity. Notably, 41 per cent of Odenak’s residential units will be affordable housing, with the City of Ottawa contributing $15 million to this aspect.
Michael Cooper, president and Chief Responsibility Officer at Dream, said, “Dream is incredibly proud to be the inaugural partner in this groundbreaking initiative at LeBreton Flats. The implementation of this Sewage Energy Exchange System to power Odenak aligns perfectly with our commitment to creating sustainable and innovative communities.”
The system works by diverting sewage from the City’s collection system into an external well, filtering it to remove large solids, and then pumping it through a heat exchanger to draw energy for heating or cooling. The pumped sewage is then discharged back into the municipal sewer.
Discussions are also ongoing with the National Capital Commission (NCC) to explore extending the SEES network to serve additional land parcels at LeBreton Flats.
The project aligns with the City of Ottawa’s goal of reducing community greenhouse gas emissions by 96 per cent by 2040, as outlined in its Climate Change Master Plan.
There are SEES projects operating in Europe, the United States, Toronto and Vancouver, with other Canadian ones planned. There is growing interest in this technology. City of Ottawa staff are part of a working group with other municipalities to share and exchange ideas as they collectively start using these systems.
The statement says 41% of Odenak’s residential units will be affordable housing and prioritize Algonquin and other Indigenous peoples, veterans, recent immigrants, women and children and adults with cognitive disabilities. 31% will also be accessible. The City of Ottawa contributed $15 million to support the project’s affordable housing.
This is the second partnership for Dream, Theia Partners and Hydro Ottawa. In 2022, they partnered with Kruger to create the Zibi Community Utility, which uses heat from Kruger’s effluents to heat and cool all of Zibi’s residential and commercial buildings in Ontario and Quebec.
SEES may be suitable for connection with other large collector sewers elsewhere in the city, the statement says.
