Integrated Community Energy Solutions

Renée Lazarowich – Community Energy Technical AdvisorOffice of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada

Rural Development Network Renewable Energy Workshop

June 11, 2010

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Overview

Integrated Community Energy Solutions (ICES)Current and Recent Federal ActivitiesICES in Small, Rural and Remote Communities –results from Pembina study

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Integrated Community Energy Solutions (ICES)

Energy Efficient Housing, Buildings, Industry

Integrated Heating, Cooling, Power Systems, Industrial Waste Heat, Municipal Systems

Community Form

Integrated Transportation Systems

Integrated DesignICES integrate energy across

multiple sectors

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Integrated Community Energy Solutions

Represent an integrated and holistic approach to energy supply and use in communitiesApply to all types of communities, ranging from

Rural and small remote towns to medium-sized municipalities and large cities, as well as New developments, existing neighbourhoods and even whole regions

Are gaining support across Canada with a growing number of examples Have the potential to contribute significantly to national GHG objectives

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Drake Landing Solar Community (Okotoks, AB)

State of the Art District Renewable Energy System with R-2000 Housing Block-R-2000 homes, solar thermal, district energy system with seasonal storage- 52 homes- 90%+ space heating from solar/storage system

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Key ICES Players

Local governmentsZoning, policy, investment and leadership

Provincial and territorial governmentsMunicipal legislative framework, regulation of energy sector

The Government of CanadaInformation, research, coordination and facilitation, financial support

Developers and other private enterprisesImplementation of ICES, development of business models

Energy companies, utilities and regulatorsInvestment, ownership and oversight of integrated solutions

Other ICES enablers (e.g. CHBA, QUEST, FCM)Build public support and capacity to deliver ICES projects

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Existing Federal Support for ICES

Federal Funding InitiativesEQuilibrium Communities Initiative - $4.2 million (in partnership with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)Clean Energy Fund - $192 millionecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities programGreen Municipal Fund - $550 million (administered, at arms length, by Federation of Canadian Municipalities)New infrastructure funds - Building Canada ($33 billion), Infrastructure Stimulus Fund ($4 billion), Green Infrastructure Fund ($1 billion)

Research and Development through CanmetENERGYCommunity energy planning, integrated energy systems, alternative energy technologies

Collaboration and consultation with PT & StakeholdersFederal, provincial and territorial (FPT) cooperation under the auspice of the Council of Energy MinistersFinancial support for QUEST secretariat and studies

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Other Federal Activities

Standing Committee on Natural Resources StudyJune 2009, Committee released report supportive of ICES, with 9 recommendations to federal government for advancing ICES in CanadaGovernment response agrees in principle with all recommendations and will continue collaboration and consultation with PT & stakeholders and will consider how to best advance ICES

Minister’s RoundtableOctober 2009, 22 senior level decision makersParticipants supportive of ICES, positive about the Roundtable and provided useful input on possible federal role

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Federal Provincial Work on ICES –CEM Roadmap

Council of Energy Ministers ICES Roadmap

Released September 1, 2009 - Endorsed by all CEM ministers Tool for FPT governments in moving ICES forward – All types of communitiesRoadmap informed through consultations by CEM jurisdictions with key stakeholders

1. Defines ICES & proposes vision: by 2050 all Canadian communities are designed and operated as integrated community energy systems

2. Explores roles for governments and key stakeholders

3. Identifies Barriers 4. Develops timeline for implementation (3 phases)5. Outlines broad strategies to advance ICES including

a menu of enabling tools for government

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CEM Roadmap – Timelines for implementationDivided into three phases:1. Quick start: Large-scale showcases, quick-start projects –

encourage early planning and identification of opportunities2. Acceleration: Develop and implement focused programs, policy

and regulatory support and increase research and development3. Large-Scale Adoption: Long gestation period: funding, policy and

regulatory frameworks, training, innovation

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Path Forward – Federal Leadership

The Government is considering how to best advance ICES as it continues its efforts to provide effective and efficient support to improve and encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy in Canada and to build stronger communities

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Path Forward – Stakeholder Leadership

QUESTAnnual conference and workshopRegional caucuses to address regional challengesPromotion of ICES across sectors

FCMGreen Municipal FundsPartners for Climate ProtectionActively involved with ICES

Pembina Study

Cutting Carbon in Small, Rural and Remote Communities: Options and successful strategies for achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

Study Objectives

Identify strategies that can put small, rural and remote communities on track for deep reductions in energy use and emissionsUnderstand the opportunities for community-wide improvement in energy performance by taking a more holistic approach to energy supply and demandUnderstand the unique challenges and opportunities faced by these communities

Targeted Communities

Population less than 10,000Connected to regional utility networks, and not connectedNot strongly influenced by larger centres

Approximately 6.8 million Canadians (~20%)Around 3,000 to 4,000 communitiesOver 680 PJ of energy and 38 Mt of CO2e used in buildings and transportation alone (~5% of national total energy use)

Energy and GHG profiles vary between communities, based on energy sources and community characteristics

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Unique Circumstances in Small, Rural and Remote Communities

Each community is uniqueThe unique mix of social, economic, environmental and energy resources play a critical role in the development and applicability of energy solutions

CapacityStaff and experts with appropriate knowledge may not always be availableFewer resources may be available to ‘compete’ against larger cities for limited program dollars for implementation of large projects

BureaucracySmaller bureaucracy can facilitate the development and implementation of innovative solutions

Planning around Community Economic DevelopmentIntegrating community energy planning within the context of economic diversification and development can open up avenues of development that can meet multiple objectives

Energy costsSolutions offering improved energy performance can be more attractive in areas where energy prices are much higher

Successful Strategies: Community Energy Performance

Incorporation of community energy planningAdoption of ‘hub-and-spoke’ regional approachesImplementation of comprehensive community-wide programs

City of Dawson Creek, British Columbia

Comprehensive energy plan for the community Implementation of building audits and retrofits, light-

emitting diode (LED) traffic lights, a solar-ready bylaw, training, energy program promotion

Successful Strategies: Energy Efficient Buildings

Promotion of federal/provincial retrofit programsAdoption of higher performance regulation for new constructionExploration of next-generation energy performance

East Gwillimbury, OntarioAll new housing requires EnergyStar certification,

and non-residential requires LEED SilverPart of comprehensive community energy planSupport despite outside municipal jurisdiction

Successful Strategies:Integrated Heating and Cooling

Implementation of district heatingImplementation of waste to energy systemsIntegration of renewable energy technologies

Oujé-Bougoumou District Heating, Oujé-Bougoumou, Quebec

Provides village-wide heating to efficient homes and buildings using a wood waste (biomass) district energy systemPart of the ongoing community

revitalization and self-sufficiency efforts

Successful Strategies:Transportation and Land Use

Investment in active transportation Strategic integration of transit servicesDevelopment of complete, mixed use village areas

Haliburton County, OntarioHired a regional coordinator to develop

and implement active transportation plans for the Villages of Haliburton and MindenPartnership between public health,

tourism, municipal recreation, community economic development…

Successful Strategies:Off-Grid Communities

Investment in connection to gridAddition of renewable energy, and more renewable energy

Ramea, NewfoundlandElectricity generated by diesel and

wind State-of-the-art wind-hydrogen-diesel

R&D project, expected to allow the shutting down of all diesel generators during periods of low demand

Areas to Address in order to Improve Energy Performance

Uptake of energy efficiencyAssessment of community-specific potential projectsAssessment of community-specific renewable energy potentialIntegration of local and regional industry in community energy planningIntegration of energy in all community planning processesCoordination and knowledge sharing between communitiesLong term support for implementation of energy plans

Addendum: FCM AGM

NRCan hosted a session on ICES in small, rural and remote communities at Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual General Meeting (May 2010)3 mayors presented leading edge ICES projects:

New development on municipal landEconomic development opportunity

200+ audienceInterest in how these communities are making it workExpressed need for information, guidelines, tools

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Conclusion

Over the last couple years, interest in ICES has grown, and continues to growThe Federal Government recognizes the opportunities ICES offer to meet national objectives and is evaluating options to advance ICESICES offer significant opportunities for small, rural and remote communities and their involvement will be important to the success of making ICES mainstreamThere are already some very promising examples of leadership in small, rural and remote communities on which future efforts could be based