As cities race to cut emissions and reduce energy demand, Concordia's Next-Generation Cities Institute (NGCI) has won an international competition to develop new District Energy (DE) Market Development Guidelines. District energy networks distribute heating or cooling across groups of buildings or entire neighbourhoods by drawing on clean sources such as geothermal heat, waste heat from industry or data centres and solar thermal energy.
Launched by the International Energy Agency's Technology Collaboration Programme on District Heating and Cooling, the project will provide governments and planners with guidance as they build and expand district energy systems, helping steer the future of sustainable urban energy.
Closing the gap on standards
Cities like Copenhagen, Chicago and Markham, Ontario, show how coordinated planning and the right policy environment can make these systems efficient and widely accessible. Yet despite growing interest, many regions still lack clear guidance on how to plan, assess and launch DE projects.
NGCI's project aims to fill that gap by creating adaptable guidelines that help communities understand how to evaluate feasibility, develop business models and implement district energy systems suited to local conditions.
Led by NGCI founding director Ursula Eicker and Oriol Gavalda, manager of decarbonization initiatives at NGCI, and working with partners in Sweden, China and Belgium, the team is drawing on international examples to build practical tools cities can use.
As Eicker explains, "District energy systems are essential for reducing peak loads and achieving net-zero cities. With DE-ployment, we provide governments and stakeholders with practical, adaptable guidelines to overcome barriers and accelerate implementation worldwide."
Tools communities can use
The guidelines will include a readiness checklist that helps municipalities determine whether district energy is a good fit for their area. A dynamic wiki - a collaborative website that lets users create and maintain content - and case studies library will highlight examples from around the world, allowing planners to learn from proven models and replicate success.
As cities continue to grow, district energy will play a crucial role in meeting climate targets and managing energy demand. This initiative is designed to give governments and communities actionable tools to support the transition to cleaner, more efficient heating and cooling. It also strengthens NGCI's mission to build digital resources for urban decarbonization through platforms like TOOLS4CITIES, giving users a clear path to informed planning without specialized expertise.
NGCI's leadership in this international project highlights Concordia's role in advancing sustainable energy solutions for the urban future.
Learn more about the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia.
