Ocean Heat Pump Regulatory review

By Eugene Erasogie on December 4, 2020

Eugene Eweka, MEL Candidate | December, 2020

APPP 506 – Master of Engineering Leadership Capstone Project, University of British Columbia

Abstract

As part of UBC’s plan to reduce its GHG emissions significantly, the University’s Energy Centre is working towards installing an ocean-source heat pump for the Vancouver campus. This paper explored the multitude of regulations and requirements from the Federal, Provincial, and Municipal governments, to support setting up an ocean-source heat pump as a supplementary heat source for UBC’s Vancouver campus buildings. A general evaluation of the potential impacts of the ocean heat pump project was presented in this paper. The paper also summarizes the feedback obtained from a broad stakeholder engagement process conducted from September to November 2020, to enable UBC identify, manage and address the needs and concerns of stakeholders with setting up an ocean-source heat pump at the Vancouver campus. This report is to serve as a guiding document and reference resource for the entire ocean source heat pump project implementation process at UBC, and for future expansion or similar projects.

Introduction

UBC is developing its Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2030, looking to further reduce GHG emissions from the 2020 target of 67% below 2007 levels. This product focuses on UBC’s academic district energy system, as the CEC, which burns natural gas, is a significant contributor to UBC’s GHG inventory. One option to replace the heat generated by the CEC is an Ocean‐Source Heat Pump (OSHP). However, there are potentially significant political and regulatory hurdles to implement this. This project would help to identify some of the potentially significant hurdles. [2] UBC’s SEEDS (Social Ecological Economic Development Studies) Sustainability Program in collaboration with UBC Energy & Water services is looking for solutions to replace the heat generated by the CEC using an Ocean‐Source Heat Pump that could further reduce the natural gas consumption in the campus after the Bioenergy Research & Demonstration Facility (BRDF) expansion. This research project takes UBC’s Energy and Water Services one step closer to actualizing this by providing a reference point for some key regulatory requirements and stakeholder needs. The goal of this research was to determine the social and regulatory frameworks to support setting up an ocean heat pump at UBC Vancouver by reviewing the various existing laws and regulations which might dictate how and where an ocean‐source heat pump could be installed and operated at UBC Vancouver, and assessing stakeholders’ interests and influence levels for this project.

Background

UBC prioritizes environmental stewardship and demonstrates leadership in this area through the various projects carried out to date to reduce its carbon footprint. For example, there are currently 31 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental design) certified buildings at the Vancouver campus. This OSHP represents another opportunity for UBC to substitute a large portion of these energy purchases with locally generated renewable energy, thereby reducing UBC’s carbon footprint. An Ocean Source Heat Pump (OHSP) uses temperature changes in the ocean to heat and cool buildings. The infrastructure is made up of pipes which contain a heat transfer liquid, anchored to the seabed, and connected to the buildings. Depending on the type of system set up (vertical versus horizontal, open versus closed loop system), various degrees of disruption to the ground may be necessary. The set up typically includes pipes which contain a heat transfer liquid, anchored to the seabed, and connected to the buildings (Renewable Energy Technologies in the Trust Area, 2013, p.2). The system can either be an open loop or a closed loop. In an open loop, the water is first extracted, then the heat is extracted from the water, and then the water is returned to the ocean (ibid, p.2). A closed loop on the other hand circulates a heat transfer liquid through the pipes.

Research Methods

The research methods used include a broad literature and industry review of the various regulations for setting up OSHP and a stakeholder engagement exercise through emails and phone conversations with various representatives from the identified stakeholder groups. Regulatory bodies reviewed include Government of Canada’s Department of Oceans and Fisheries, Transport Canada, BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development, City of Vancouver, metro Vancouver, and the UBC Planning Office. These all constitute stakeholders for this project. Other stakeholders identified and engaged include Musqueam,Tsleil-Waututh and Solh Temexw FNs, Wreck Beach Preservation Society, BC Hydro, Vancouver Campus Housing, BC Pavilion Corporation, FrontCounter BC, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, and the Canadian Geoexchange Coalition.

Results

There are currently no bylaws specifically regulating the set up of an OSHP in the metro Vancouver electoral area A. UBC’s neighborhood plans also do not specify any regulations for installing OSHP on campus, but the Planning Office regulates all such installations and will require applications for permits prior to commencing construction. There are also certification requirements for professionals installing the system, and inspection requirements post-installation. Several permits, reviews, and approvals were identified that may be required for the OSHP project by the federal and provincial government offices. There are significant potential environmental impacts of installing OSHP to the fish and fish habitat, which in turn impacts the people and wild animals depending on the fish for sustenance. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Wreck Beach Society were 2 key stakeholder groups with high interest in the environmental impact of the OSHP. There are also potential cultural and equity concerns, as communities that fish in the immediate area will potentially be impacted by setting up the OSHP. None of the indigenous communities provided feedback on potential impacts to their communities. The provincial government is legally obligated to consult and accommodate First Nations, where required, on land and resource decisions that could impact their indigenous interests. No economic impacts were identified by any stakeholder groups.

Discussion and Conclusions

The key stakeholders identified in this research as high interest and high influence stakeholders include the First Nations community groups, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the UBC Board of Governors, metro Vancouver, FrontCounter BC, and BC Hydro. Next steps include further stakeholder engagement particularly with the Indigenous communities that did not get to provide feedback during the initial engagement this project conducted. A pre-review of the project with the DFO’s Fish and Fish Habitat PRotection Program is another recommended next step, to determine if a formal review process is required. Finally, future research could conduct a broad assessment of any OSHP and other alternative (clean) energy sources to pull the lessons learned and to compare the efficiency of the various systems, identify pitfalls to avoid, and discuss considerations for upscaling systems. Particularly, a research interest that could be explored is the ocean and other water source heat pumps currently running across BC. This can form part of a series of research pieces that, put together, serve as a guiding document for UBC’s energy and water services, and serves as a baseline for monitoring and evaluating projects – emission reduction met, job creation, negative impacts, risks and mitigation.

Contact

Eugene Eweka

sogie.eweka@yahoo.co.uk

References

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