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Toronto Western Hospital Retrofit

Sector(s)
Green Infrastructure
Location(s)
Toronto, ON
Participation
$19.3 million (financial close)
Partner(s)
UHN, Vancity, Noventa, Enbridge, Government of Canada

Thermal energy from wastewater to provide low-carbon heating and cooling

We are investing in the world’s largest raw wastewater energy transfer system at Toronto Western Hospital, part of the University Health Network (UHN).

Fast facts

Reduce the hospital’s natural gas and water usage
57-62% greenhouse gas reduction
Job creation in engineering, construction and green technology sectors

We are investing in the world’s largest raw wastewater energy transfer system at Toronto Western Hospital, part of the University Health Network (UHN).

Renewable energy company Noventa Energy Partners (Noventa) worked with UHN, with the support of Enbridge Gas, to develop the $42.9 million project, which will provide approximately 90 per cent of the hospital’s heating and cooling requirements.

The retrofit investment transfers thermal energy to and from wastewater flowing in the mid-Toronto interceptor sewer to provide low-carbon heating and cooling to the hospital.

As a result, the hospital’s natural gas use and water consumption will be significantly reduced. Over the next 30 years, the hospital will see a cumulative reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 250,000 tonnes.

Construction activities began at Toronto Western Hospital in October 2021.

Benefits of CIB involvement

This is the first project under the CIB’s Public Building Retrofits Initiative, which seeks to achieve significant energy savings from infrastructure owned and/or managed by the public sector.

Our financing was required to bridge the project’s commercial and economic gap which allows it to move forward. Our intent is to be repaid over the term of the contract, not the life of assets and repayment would be made through energy cost savings.

Learn more

An illustration of the wastewater energy project at Toronto Western Hospital
The exterior entrance of Toronto Western Hospital
Vancity Community Investment Bank

Financial institutions have a critical role to play in financing the transition to a low-carbon future. It will take many tools to reach net-zero and public and private collaboration will be crucial. VCIB is committed to support a clean and fair future for our communities and we will continue to back innovative technologies that create clean and cost-efficient energy systems.

Vince Gasparro, Managing Director of Corporate Development and Clean Energy Finance
Noventa Energy Partners

We are pleased to have achieved financial close for this important renewable energy project that will demonstrate the viability of wastewater energy transfer as a low-carbon means of heating and cooling our buildings. This milestone would not have been possible without the support of the University Health Network and the City of Toronto and our project partners, Enbridge Gas, the Canada Infrastructure Bank and VanCity Community Investment Bank.

Dennis Fotinos, Chief Executive Officer
University Health Network

At UHN, we know climate change is a major threat to health. Over the past decade, our Energy & Environment team has completed more than 300 energy projects, which have already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent. We’re excited to add the WET System to the roster – something we couldn’t do without support from incredible partners, like the CIB, Noventa Energy Partners, VCIB, Enbridge Gas, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the City of Toronto.

Ron Swail, Vice President, Facilities Management – Planning, Redevelopment & Operations