The City of North Vancouver’s community energy system, operated and maintained by Lonsdale Energy, serves over 15,000 residents in the Lower Lonsdale, Central Lonsdale, Moodyville and Marine Harbourside areas.

How it works

Our community energy system generates thermal energy from our energy plants, which is then distributed to multiple buildings around the City. Here's how the process works:

Step 1

Energy Generation: The process begins at the energy plant, where heat energy (thermal energy) is produced.

Step 2

Energy Distribution: The thermal energy is carried by hot water from the plant to the connected buildings through a network of insulated underground pipes. These pipes are designed to minimize heat loss during transportation.

Step 3

Energy Transfer at Buildings: Each building connected to the community energy system has an energy transfer station. This station takes the thermal energy from the network and converts it to provide heating within the building. In addition to space heating, the system can also provide hot water for things like taking a shower or washing dishes.

Step 4

Return Flow: After the energy is used in the buildings, the cooled water is returned to the energy plant through a separate set of pipes. This water is reheated and then recirculated back into the system.

Step 5

Monitoring and Control: Lonsdale Energy monitors the system to ensure efficient energy use, detect any issues and make any adjustments to meet the energy demands across the district.

Community energy systems are:

• More energy efficient: Instead of individual heating systems, over 100 buildings in North Vancouver receive thermal energy from the same source.
• Flexible: While individual systems generally rely on a single energy source (like gas or electricity), community energy systems can use multiple energy sources and add more when available, including renewable and low-carbon energy sources.
• Incredibly reliable: With eight energy plants located throughout the city, our thousands of customers in Lower Lonsdale, Central Lonsdale, Moodyville and Marine Harbourside experience virtually uninterrupted service.