Challenge Synopsis:
Buildings currently generate approximately 50% of Toronto’s GHG emissions. For Toronto to achieve its goal of net zero by 2050 any new, large district within Toronto must strive to be a zero-emission development. The City of Toronto is seeking innovative solutions that will increase in-building (i.e., standalone) renewable energy generation.
Context:
TransformTO is Toronto’s ambitious climate action strategy. Unanimously approved by City Council in July 2017, it includes a set of long-term, low-carbon goals and strategies to reduce GHG emissions. On October 2, 2019, City Council voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, adopting a stronger emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050 or sooner.
Community energy planning is a key component of TransformTO. Community Energy Planning (CEP) is a process that considers energy early in the land-use and infrastructure planning process and identifies opportunities to integrate local energy solutions at a building or neighbourhood-scale.
With the overall goal of reducing energy use and increasing the use of renewable-low carbon energy sources at a building and/or neighbourhood scale, examples of community energy planning include the extensive greening of homes and buildings, and the development and use of low carbon thermal energy networks (known as District Energy). The City has also developed new regulations, designed to increase renewable energy uptake, which will come into effect in May 2022. The regulation states that buildings must be designed to accommodate solar PV connections or solar thermal technologies; there is also a voluntary on-site renewable energy measure which requires a minimum of 5% of a building’s annual energy consumption come for a renewable energy source.
Villiers Island is an ambitious plan to develop a new, sustainable neighbourhood on Toronto’s waterfront. It is one of 17 global pilot cities committed to meeting the Climate Positive standard. The Climate Positive Framework is a high-level, non-prescriptive roadmap that leads new developments to reduce their emissions beyond zero by reducing the emissions they create and offsetting the remainder by removing emissions from their adjacent communities. Community-and neighbourhood-scale energy storage innovation will play a critical role in meeting emissions targets for Villiers Island and future projects.
Response Criteria:
- The City of Toronto is seeking solutions for in-building renewable energy generation. Solutions can include, but are not limited to, vertical solar, on-building turbines, or other suitable renewable energy generation technologies that could be installed within a single mid-high-rise building. Solutions don’t need to come with an energy storage solution, however it must integrate easily with an in-building storage technology.
- The City of Toronto is targeting companies with solutions that land between TRL 6-9 of the technology readiness scale (TRL), although it will consider low TRL solutions on a demonstration basis if they are especially novel.
- Proponents must explain how their solutions meets safety and regulatory standards and provide a description of successful deployments where applicable.
- Provide CAPEX and OPEX details for the solution.
The Opportunity:
- If chosen, conduct a demonstration project of the solution with the City of Toronto, one of Canada’s largest, most sustainable cities.
- Pitch your solution during GLOBE Forum 2022, North America’s longest running sustainable business conference.
- Meet new customers and access new markets.
About City of Toronto:
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and a world leader in such areas as business, finance, technology, entertainment and culture. The city is focused on building the necessary social and physical infrastructure to support Toronto’s growth. Toronto has over $75 billion in existing infrastructure such as facilities, transit, parks and street and underground infrastructure. The Environment & Energy Division leads, coordinates and is accountable for the City’s environment and energy sustainability outcomes. With the goal of making Toronto one of the most sustainable cities in the world, the division facilitates the development and implementation of strategic community and corporate-wide environment and energy policies and programs.
***Only non-confidential information should be included in your response ***