Innovating for Impact: Toronto Western Hospital
Trane Technologies has partnered with Toronto Western Hospital and Noventa Energy Partners to implement the world's largest wastewater thermal energy project. This groundbreaking initiative uses WET® technology to heat and cool the hospital using thermal energy from the municipal sewage system. The system will power 90% of the hospital's 1.5 million square-foot campus, reducing carbon emissions by 8,400 metric tons per year and conserving 45 million liters of water annually. The project features Trane's ultra-low GWP refrigerant heat pumps and advanced system controls. The WET system provides 19 megawatts of low-carbon thermal energy capacity, contributing significantly to the hospital's sustainability goals.
- The project reduces carbon emissions by 8,400 metric tons per year.
- The system powers 90% of the hospital's 1.5 million square-foot campus.
- Conserves 45 million liters of water annually.
- Provides 19 megawatts of low-carbon thermal energy capacity.
- Uses ultra-low GWP refrigerant heat pumps.
- Features advanced system controls for efficient energy management.
- Supports the hospital's sustainability goals significantly.
- High initial investment costs for the implementation of the WET system.
- Potential operational risks related to the integration with existing hospital systems.
- Dependence on the municipal sewage system for consistent thermal energy supply.
- Possible disruptions during construction and coordination with local utilities and the city.
Insights
The implementation of the world's largest wastewater thermal energy project at Toronto Western Hospital is a landmark achievement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project replaces conventional heating and cooling systems with the WET® (Wastewater Energy Transfer) technology, which uses thermal energy from municipal sewage systems. Such innovations can significantly curb carbon emissions, as evidenced by the projected reduction of 8,400 metric tons of CO2 annually for the hospital. This is equivalent to taking 1,800 gasoline-powered cars off the road each year, underscoring a substantial positive impact on the environment.
Moreover, the system's ability to reduce water usage by 45 million liters annually is particularly notable. Water conservation is an often-overlooked aspect of sustainability, making this project a comprehensive example of resource-efficient innovation. It's a game-changer in terms of how urban wastewater can be repurposed for energy, setting a precedent for future projects worldwide.
The financial ramifications of this project are significant. By leveraging renewable energy sources, Toronto Western Hospital can potentially reduce operational costs associated with traditional energy consumption. The use of efficient heat pumps and the integration of advanced system controls via Trane's technologies promise not only consistent energy supply but also substantial cost savings over time. Particularly in the healthcare sector, where energy demands are high, such innovations can lead to meaningful financial efficiencies.
Additionally, the environmental benefits align with increasing regulatory pressures and investor demands for sustainable practices, potentially making Toronto Western Hospital more attractive to ESG-conscious investors. The reduction in carbon emissions and water usage enhances the hospital's ESG profile, a valuable asset in today's investment climate.
This initiative positions Trane and Noventa Energy Partners at the forefront of the sustainable energy market. The collaboration demonstrates their capability to handle large-scale, complex projects that integrate advanced technologies with existing infrastructures. This successful implementation is likely to bolster both companies' reputations and market positions as leaders in sustainability and innovation.
From a market perspective, the partnership highlights a growing trend where institutions, particularly in the healthcare sector, are moving towards sustainable energy solutions. This can stimulate further investment and development in similar projects, potentially expanding market opportunities for companies specializing in green technologies. Observing how this project unfolds could provide investors with a better understanding of the scalability and economic viability of wastewater energy transfer systems.
Trane® helps Toronto Western Hospital and sustainable energy leader Noventa Energy Partners implement groundbreaking wastewater heating and cooling system.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / We're helping solve our customers' big challenges by innovating and delivering solutions that are better for their business-and for the environment.
Project At-a-Glance:
The opportunity: Working together with the University Health Network's Toronto Western Hospital and sustainable energy leader Noventa® Energy Partners, Trane® helps implement the world's largest wastewater thermal energy project.
The solution: A custom designed and engineered heat pump system including:
- Trane® chiller heat pumps containing ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants - Agility HDWA, CenTraVac CVHH, RTWD
- Trane system controls, including enterprise building management system Tracer® Ensemble with integrated work order management
- Trane Digital Services including Intelligent Services, Analytics and active alarm monitoring
Sustainability outcomes:
- Low-carbon energy powers
90% of the HVAC needs of a 1.5 million square-foot hospital campus - Carbon emissions reduction of 8,400 metric tons/year
- Water use reduction of 45 million litres/year
- 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours of low-carbon energy over the life of the project
- 19 megawatts of low-carbon thermal energy capacity
- Over 2,400 tons of low-carbon cooling capacity
- Over 33,000 MBTU of low-carbon heating capacity
University Health Network's (UHN) Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, Canada, has been a leader in sustainable practices for over twenty years. Guided by their motto "UHN: Practicing Patient and Planet Centred Care," UHN has won multiple awards for innovative programming that incorporates care for the planet into their patient care model.
As a further step on the path toward sustainability, Toronto Western hoped to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. To help the hospital realize that goal, UHN tapped renewable energy leader Noventa Energy Partners, famous for their groundbreaking Wastewater Energy TransferTM, or WET® technology, to take advantage of thermal energy from the city's municipal sewage system to heat and cool their campus.
WET technology replaces conventional heating and cooling systems with a heat transfer process based on recovering thermal energy from wastewater. Whereas most hospitals rely on greenhouse gas-emitting natural gas combustion to heat their facilities, the thermal energy contained in wastewater is low-carbon, highly reliable and renewable energy.
Though most people don't ever think about it, wastewater contains abundant thermal energy. It represents a potentially massive unused resource that only requires the will - and the expertise - to make good use of it.
Assembling the decarbonization A-Team
As remarkable as a WET system is, it doesn't function on its own. It requires a heat pump as a connection point between the wastewater system and the hospital's HVAC. Noventa looked to Trane® for that critical link. For the system to make financial sense, the heat pump must be extremely efficient.
Another key reason Noventa chooses Trane for these large-scale projects is the depth of knowledge and capability in Trane engineering equipment and automation solutions and the quality and efficiency of the products. The expertise at Trane and the knowledge to successfully execute large and complex building automation and controls projects while integrating them into existing hospital systems allowed for efficient construction. Implementing the WET solution required working with the hospital without disrupting operations and ongoing coordination with local utilities and the City of Toronto.
The WET technology system connects directly to Toronto's sewer system, which remains at a stable temperature throughout the year. The system removes solids from wastewater at the sewer level, then a self-cleaning heat exchanger eliminates the need to handle wastewater inside the buildings. To integrate the recovered thermal energy into the existing HVAC system, a highly efficient, high-temperature capable heat pump is required.
In summer, the system employs Trane chiller heat pumps containing ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants that reject heat into the sewers. The result: the building is cooled without the need for cooling towers, which would otherwise consume energy and potable water. In winter, heat is extracted from the sewer system, and Trane chiller heat pumps supply the hospital with reliable hot water.
In addition to the heat pumps, the system leverages Trane system controls, including a Trane Tracer® Ensemble, enterprise-wide building management system, valves and meters to control and maximize system operation. Analytics and fault detection diagnostics built into the Trane automation system manage the equipment's performance under various conditions to ensure a reliable energy supply.
Results
At 19 megawatts, Toronto Western's WET system is currently the world's largest raw wastewater energy project. The system is capable of supplying 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours of energy, over 2,400 tons of cooling, and over 33,000 MBH of heating.
The WET system will supply 90 percent of the energy needed to heat and cool the hospital's 1.5 million square foot campus. In total, it eliminates 8,400 metric tons of carbon emissions per year - the equivalent of the carbon output of 1,800 gasoline-powered cars.
"We're honored to partner with Noventa for Toronto Western Hospital to pursue their mission of practicing patient and planet-centered care," said Lukas Glaspell, Trane Account Executive. "As a purpose-driven organization ourselves, we know that human and planetary health are closely linked. Alongside Noventa, we're proud to support clients like Toronto Western in improving both."
View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Trane Technologies on 3blmedia.com.
Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Trane Technologies
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/trane-technologies
Email: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE: Trane Technologies
View the original press release on accesswire.com
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