Based on available information and discussions with project proponents, CERI gathered direct expenditure estimates. On a parallel track, CERI performed a literature survey to identify the various environmental issues that must be addressed. Environment Overcoming Barriers to the Implementation of District Energy Projects. Overcoming Barriers to the Implementation of District Energy Projects. The federal government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet international commitments.
Cities reject very large volumes of potentially useable heat from industrial and other processes.
At the same time, they consume large amounts of fossil fuel for space heating. Harnessing the wasted energy for space heating would directly reduce emissions of GHG and other combustion pollutants. District energy systems are the only feasible way to collect and transport such reject heat. Despite the significant environmental benefits of Green DE, its rate of adoption in Canada has been slow because it offers little direct economic benefit to consumers relative to natural gas and electric heating. It is also difficult to earn an acceptable rate of return on DE projects because of high initial capital costs coupled with the slow rate at which a customer base can be built.