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Explore options for lower carbon heating fuels such as renewable gas, anaerobic digestion, and other options.
Co-generation is a major energy efficiency strategy for district energy systems. Fuel is used in a turbine or generator to create electricity then waste heat from the combustion process is used to create hot-water and/ or steam for heating or cooling. The Agricultural campus’s district energy system has been recently upgraded to include a co-generation system and hot water network. Dalhousie Halifax campuses are a strong candidate for low carbon fuel fired co-generation because of consumption profiles and consistent loads, a district heating network that feeds Dalhousie and other entities, and our use of central cooling. Co-generation can provide electricity backup in case Dalhousie is isolated from the power grid, which creates an energy-secure environment for research, data services, and residents. Options analysis for co-generation implementation is ongoing.
Over 95% of all Dalhousie buildings on the Halifax and Agricultural campus are connected to a district energy network fed by a Central Heating Plant. Converting from steam to hot-water for campus heating can realize up to 30% energy efficiency gains. In the last decade, the Agricultural and Sexton campuses have been converted from steam to hot water. In the next decade, a focus will be on steam to hot-water conversions at the Studley and Carleton campuses.
In the last decade, nine solar installations have been implemented on campus. In our experience, solar photo voltaic (PV) systems on campus buildings provide roughly 5-25% of the building electricity load. Adding renewable technologies to new and existing buildings and securing potentially 100% of electricity through off-campus renewable energy (such as wind and solar) is a key strategy to achieve more aggressive carbon targets. Explore the Energy, Water, and Green Buildings page for more information on renewable energy and building retrofits on campus.
Climate change impacts such as increased and intense precipitation and wind and ice storms creates vulnerabilities for critical infrastructure services.
Key strategies include:
- Burying power lines
- Upgrading building envelopes
- Assessing and implementing emergency generation/ cogeneration for key facilities
- Upgrading water infrastructure vulnerabilities
- Relocating or renewing critical infrastructure components
Specific mentions in climate planning sessions include:
The Halifax Central Heating Plant (Agricultual Campus has been recently renewed)
The Killam data centre
Dalplex roof
Facilities without backup power
Jenkins Hall as a campus warming centre
Some flood-prone agricultural and campus lands used for campus teaching and research
Targets
Greenhouse gas reduction
2020—2030: 36,000 tonnes
2030—2040: 30,000 tonnes
2040—2050: 0 tonnes
Total: 66,000 tonnes
Adaptation
- Power lines buried
Secure energy sources
Potential relocation or renewal of critical vulnerable assets.