Community Scale & District Geothermal Energy

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• Community Scale Geothermal, including district geothermal systems, can provide significant energy savings.
• Manitoba has established industry leadership in the implementation of district, community scale and large scale geothermal heat pump systems to distribute renewable thermal heat including to multiple buildings in a community or district system. District Geothermal Energy is provided through a linked geothermal system(s) that serves several buildings.
• The economic attractiveness of district energy systems often relates closely to the energy density of the thermal customers being served.  As a result, district energy systems tend to be located in areas where there are a cluster of buildings such as towns and cities where these systems may serve a combination of buildings including commercial, community and residential customers.

Did you know?

Manitoba has a multitude of large and community scale geothermal systems?  See below:

Manitoba Examples: Community Scale Geothermal

• Community served by district geothermal - Île-des-Chênes, Manitoba:
  • A District Geothermal System interconnects three community buildings for heating and cooling including an arena, fire hall and a 30,000 sq ft community centre through a single geothermal energy field.
  • Awarded 2012 Energy Winner for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Sustainable Communities Award
  • Achieved national finalist in the 2012 QUEST Community Energy Builder Competition
  • An ultra efficient renewable energy system was achieved: The district geothermal system is expected to operate at approximately 500% efficiency.  The community centre is anticipated to use 60% less energy, and energy costs for the arena are expected to be reduced by 40%.
  • The initiative is demonstrated outstanding championship of renewable energy particularly for a rural municipality of just over 5,000 residents. 
  • See a video and pictures of the geothermal project at:
    www.fcm.ca/home/awards/fcm-sustainable-communities-awards/2012-winners/2012-energy-co-winner-1.htm
• First Nations' Homes – Manitoba: Fisher River Cree Nation & Peguis First Nation - Community Geothermal Project
• Residential Housing Development – Winnipeg:  Bridgwater Forest Neighbourhood - Geothermal lots & Condominiums
• Residential Multi-Unit District Geothermal System:
  • Winnipeg District Geothermal System - Residential Complex
    Article: North End's Geothermal Gem
    Winnipeg Free Press
• Residential Subpision served by a community geothermal energy system:  The Yards in Winnipeg, Manitoba is being developed to offer geothermal heating and cooling:  See: http://fortrougeyards.com

Office District Geothermal Stanley Business Centre in the Winkler/Morden area:

• Manitoba's first district geothermal system that exclusively serves office buildings.
• Article: Warming up to geothermal; Office complex incorporates popular system
  Winnipeg Free Press

Retail District Geothermal

• Seasons of Tuxedo Retail Development - Developers IKEA Properties Ltd & Winnipeg's Fairweather Properties Inc.
• Seasons of Tuxedo, a 275,000-square-foot mixed retail development south of Sterling Lyon Parkway in Winnipeg, will be served by a district geothermal energy system that will provide clean, renewable, efficient heating and cooling to 50 to 60 retail outlets, financial institutions and restaurants

Additional Information

• Geothermal Heat Pump Systems for Strategic Planning on the Community Scale
• Economics of Connecting Buildings to District Heating Systems
• Integrated Community Energy – Natural Resources Canada - Port Hawkesbury Centre

Integrating Green Heat provides building owners with:

a) Renewable heating and cooling; and

b) A means to hedge against the risk of volatile fossil fuel prices.