Concordia will collaborate with Énergir and Hydro-Québec as part of its PLAN/NET ZERØ climate initiative
The next phase of Concordia’s PLAN/NET ZERØ initiative will see the university working with Énergir and Hydro-Québec to implement sustainable energy solutions on Loyola Campus. Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Graham Carr made this announcement on May 6 at the Sommet Climat Montréal.
The project will combine the knowledge and expertise of these two pillars of the Quebec energy sector with Concordia’s research strengths to work toward accelerating Quebec’s energy transition. Together, the collaborators will explore methods to decarbonize the campus in a grid-friendly manner and minimize power demand at peak times.
“We’re delighted to have Énergir and Hydro-Québec join us in this next step,” Carr says. “This collaboration agreement allows us to further Concordia’s commitment to decarbonization by leveraging our infrastructure to support the research and development of sustainable energy solutions for Montreal and Quebec.”
A city within a city
The project will look at enhancing Loyola’s existing energy network with different energy solutions (such as geothermal energy, solar energy and energy storage) to provide efficient, safe and reliable low-carbon heating and cooling.
The layout of Loyola Campus as a “city within a city” represents a unique opportunity for this type of project. Made up of some 30 buildings in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood, it’s the ideal setting for a living lab. Researchers and industry will be able to develop energy innovations that can be applied on a larger scale by cities and institutions seeking to reduce carbon emissions. The project’s vision is to create a centre of excellence on campus, which is critical to educate the next generation of sustainable leaders in Quebec.
From left: Caroline De Vit, Senior Director, Business Development and Performance, Hydro-Québec; Stéphane Chayer, Strategic Advisor to the President, Concordia University; Concordia President Graham Carr; Stéphanie Trudeau, Executive Vice-President, Quebec, Énergir
Maximizing impact
Before the project begins in earnest, the collaborators will conduct a financial, legal and regulatory feasibility study with the campus community in mind. This study will ensure that the project employs the best solutions to maximize emission reduction, while optimizing energy efficiency and resilience with grid-friendly possibilities.
PLAN/NET ZERØ aligns with Concordia’s Sustainability Action Plan, launched in 2020, which aims for the university to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
Find out more about Concordia’s PLAN/NET ZERØ initiative.
