July 2, 2025
The City of Edmonton today took important steps towards a net-zero emissions future and increasing its energy resilience, following a decision to expand a district energy system under construction downtown.
City Council approved the creation of a new municipally owned utility to operate the first phase of the Downtown District Energy Initiative. The first phase, designed and constructed by EPCOR, is expected to be operational this fall and will provide heat to three buildings — the Winspear Centre for Music, including its planned expansion, Chancery Hall and Century Place. The system consists of a central energy centre, housed at the Winspear, distribution pipes connecting the three buildings, and energy transfer stations to bring the heat into each building. EPCOR will maintain and operate the system upon start-up.
Council also approved further expansion of the system to three additional buildings — the Citadel Theatre, Stanley A. Milner Library and City Hall — as well as preliminary design work for Phase 2, which is expected to bring the system to up to 20 more, mostly private buildings and two new developments.
“District energy is a proven pathway to decarbonization on a community scale,” said Christian Felske, Director of Renewable Energy Systems. “Today’s decision brings Edmonton in line with other major Canadian municipalities that have built downtown district energy systems to help reach climate goals.”
Edmonton is warming at twice the global average and has the highest per person emissions of any Canadian municipality. The City has set a goal to achieve net-zero emissions for all of its operations by 2040, and for the city as a whole by 2050. A city-wide district energy strategy was developed as a key action to reach these goals.
“Buildings produce 36 per cent of our city’s emissions,” Felske said. “By centralizing heating and, eventually, cooling services, and by integrating renewable energy sources, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy resilience for our city.”
The system will run on natural gas boilers in the initial stages of utility operation. Electric boilers, running on renewable electricity purchased by the City, will be added to the system, along with future planned integration of lower-carbon sources like waste heat recovery and geoexchange. At full build-out, which is expected by 2050, the entire downtown system is designed to connect around 50 buildings and has the potential to operate emissions free.
The Downtown District Energy Initiative is the second City-owned district energy system developed as part of its District Energy Strategy. The first system opened in 2019 and provides heating and cooling in the Blatchford neighbourhood. The utility has been recognized with international awards for its sustainable and innovative design.
