New heat pumps installed as part of the NEU expansion project

Sewage heat recovery expansion project

The Neighbourhood Energy Utility (NEU) turned on 2 new sewage-to-water heat pumps at the end of 2024, expanding its capacity to supply low carbon heat.

These new heat pumps operate at over 300% efficiency, delivering more than 3 units of thermal energy for every unit of electricity used.

About the expansion
The NEU began operating in 2010, supplying thermal energy to Southeast False Creek with 3.2 megawatts (MW) of sewage heat recovery capacity.

As more buildings connected to the system, Council approved an expansion in 2018 to serve additional neighbourhoods, including parts of Mount Pleasant, Northeast False Creek, and the False Creek Flats.

The NEU sewage heat recovery expansion included:
- Two new sewage-to-water heat pumps, each with a thermal output of 3.3 MW
- New sewage screening equipment
- Upgrades to civil, mechanical, electrical, and control systems
Next steps

Project timeline

2022
Phase 1 begins
- Site preparation
- Civil work begins: live connection to sewer line
2023
Phase 1 complete

Phase 2 begins
- Mechanical work begins for the process water and sewage systems, electrical and controls, and commissioning
2024

New 3.3 MW heat pumps are turned on

Phase 2 complete
2025

Evaluate options to transition energy supply to 100% renewable energy sources by 2030.
We are here
2030

Target year to complete transition to 100% renewable energy

Financial support

The project received support from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia:

CleanBC Communities - $10.2 million grant
Federation of Canadian Municipalities through its Green Municipalities Fund (GMF) financing: $8.6 million with a grant of $1.3 million