Toronto: Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Independent Electricity System Operator announced January 19 having struck a “strategic,” five-year partnership to test innovative processes, technologies and program delivery models to accelerate the adoption of conservation and demand management (CDM) solutions by Ontario's broader public sector.
Through the agreement, the IESO will support the testing of new CDM projects across IO's diverse portfolio, which features approximately 4,000 buildings and structures across the province that support a wide range of ministry programs. This includes multi-ministry office buildings, courthouses and correctional facilities.
Selected projects will focus on areas including energy efficiency, operational performance and opportunities to work toward "net zero" buildings, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.
The partners say that by creating a safe, controlled environment in which new conservation technologies and solutions can be tested, the partnership is expected to reduce some of the existing barriers to widespread implementation. It may also encourage uptake by the broader public sector and potentially the commercial, industrial and institutional sectors.
The IESO's Conservation Fund will allocate up to $10 million to support approved IO projects. Support from the Fund will cover a maximum of 75 per cent of eligible project costs.
Individual projects will be identified throughout 2017 and will be executed by the end of 2020. Under the terms of this agreement, IO will propose projects for consideration and an IESO review team will evaluate and, where warranted, select them for funding. If the funded projects yield significant energy savings, they may eventually be integrated into existing programs or expanded into new ones.