The city closes financing for the steam distribution project

Quebec City has successfully completed the financial package for the innovative steam distribution project at Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus thanks to the participation of two higher levels of government, in the amount increased from $40 to $44 million.

• Read also: It’s impossible to collect trash every week in Levis

• Read also: Food waste collection: Quebec City is looking for volunteers to test the bags

The project, announced in November 2019, was expected to cost $40 million. It consisted of supplying the huge hospital of infant Jesus with steam from the burnt offering. The green project makes it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the hospital by 95%. This represents 10,000 tons less carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of 2,500 cars per year. L’Enfant-Jésus will become the first university hospital at this near-carbon-neutral scale in Quebec, said Martin Beaumont, president and CEO of CHU de Quebec.

On Monday, the city presented its financial package. Thus, the municipality will pay $12.8 million, the Quebec government, $14.1 million and the Canadian government, $16.9 million, for a total of $43.8 million.

That’s $4 million more than what was originally announced. When asked to explain this cost increase, the mayor, Regis Labomme, noted that the city had “improved the project,” without providing further details. He specifies that for the city and university hospital center, this represents “avoided costs” of $3 million annually. He insists this project is being implemented “at no cost in the medium and long term”. Therefore, the city aims to fully repay its investment thanks to the expected revenues.

“It shows we can go much further,” the mayor said, which is already preparing the ground for selling the remaining steam to companies that will be set up in Distemoville or in the area. The future innovation zone in the East Coast region. Moreover, we anticipate the blow by adding this line that will connect the crematorium and the hospital, a crossroads that will be able to join the respective areas.

The project presented by ministers on Monday as a “revolution” paves the way for other cities or building managers to emulate it. In Quebec City, the technology will be implemented in 2023.

“This is the first project of this kind across the country and it is happening in our national capital,” said Quebec’s Minister of Environment, Benoit Charette.

This is a “circular economy project” because it uses waste from the incinerator to replace almost all of the natural gas consumption and a good portion of the hospital’s electricity consumption. The latter will use steam in kitchens and in the process of sterilizing equipment. It will also be converted for heating, air conditioning and electricity production.

see also