World’s largest raw wastewater energy transfer project at Toronto Western Hospital, reached financial close

The $42.9 million retrofit project was developed by Noventa Energy Partners with UHN and Enbridge Gas, which will provide nearly 90% of the hospital’s heating and cooling requirements.

Under the contract, the CIB will invest up to $19.3 million in subordinated debt and Vancity Community Investment Bank will invest $15.3 million in senior debt. Noventa Energy Partners and Enbridge Gas are equity partners while UHN contributes capital and the Government of Canada will provide a grant through the Environment and Climate Change Canada – Low Carbon Economy Fund.

Toronto Western Hospital started construction earlier this month.

This is the first project in the CIB’s Public Building Retrofits Initiative, which intends save a significant energy in public-owned or-managed infrastructure.

To provide low-carbon heating and cooling to the hospital, the retrofit project will use the Huber ThermWin System and Noventa IP to transfer thermal energy from the mid-Toronto interceptor sewer. Over the next 30 years, the hospital’s greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by over 250,000 tonnes.

“The project will dramatically lower GHG emissions at the hospital while helping UHN meet its climate change commitments. We look forward to working with more public sector asset owners and the private sector to invest in new energy retrofit projects which consider long-term sustainability and action on climate change.” CIB CEO, Ehren Cory said in a statement.