Decommissioning Drake Landing Solar Community
Over its lifetime, the Drake Landing Solar Community inspired new ideas and proved what was possible for sustainable energy. Unprecedented in the world, the innovative project garnered support from industry, academia, and government – all while drawing attention and accolades worldwide. It also inspired new ideas for communities in Canada, China, the United States and several European countries.
Fulfilling over 90 per cent of each home’s space heating requirements from solar energy, estimates show that each home produced about 5 tonnes fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year than an average home, making them 30 per cent more efficient than conventional residential buildings of a similar age.
However, in recent years the district heat system has shown its age with critical components failing and affecting reliability – it is in fact, at the end of its life. Adding to this, it is increasingly difficult to find replacement parts and the right technical expertise for maintenance and repairs. Therefore, the system is much less reliable and no longer working as intended. Natural gas backup boilers are now delivering most of the heat as components of the solar thermal, borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) and heat loop systems have deteriorated beyond repair.
While significantly outlasting the project's initial four-year testing period and having provided almost 17 years of continuous performance analysis and knowledge, the mounting issues have led to an untenable funding model. Despite monthly access fees paid by residents, recent costs to run the system have ballooned, with annual losses of $42,000 to $62,000 – all covered by the Drake Landing Company (DLC). And despite extensive efforts to arrange for new grant funding, the DLC has been unable to secure additional dollars, making the path forward a clear choice – the Drake Landing Solar Community must be decommissioned.
Although the time has come to wind the project down, our sincere thanks go to the homeowners and residents who have been a part of this success story – none of which would have been possible without your unwavering belief in a better energy alternative.
Looking forward, the DLC has completed an assessment to determine the best options for homeowners and residents with a focus on the ability to access reliable energy and space heating.
Drake Landing Company Board of Directors
HOMEOWNER & RESIDENT INFORMATION PACKAGE
History, Accolades & Challenges
Contact Us
Targeted Decommissioning Timeline
NEXT STEPS
It is vital that all 52 homes have been transitioned to a reliable heat source before the next winter season.
Homeowners have four options to choose from and are encouraged to submit their preference as soon as possible. We aim to transition all homes by October 31 and the final steps to shut down the heating system will begin immediately afterwards, followed by system decommissioning.
Note – Homeowners may choose to apply for the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CIEP) financing waitlist for Okotoks.
Option A
Natural gas furnace installation
Cost: Covered by Drake Landing Company
Overview:
- Removal of air handler unit followed by installation of a standard 2 stage 96% efficient natural gas forced-air furnace.
Choice of equipment:
Option B
Combination natural gas furnace + hot water installation
Cost: Additional $4,975 over what is covered in Option A.
Overview:
- Removal of air handler and natural gas hot water units*, followed by installation of Gradient Thermal 2-in-1 combined natural gas furnace + tankless hot water heater.
Equipment available:
*Solar hot water unit can potentially be removed if compatible with combined unit.
Option C
Hybrid heating (electric heat pump)
Cost: Additional $7,385 over what is covered in Option A.
Overview:
- Removal of air handler unit followed by installation of electric heat pump for space heating/cooling.
Equipment available:
Option D
Cash in kind. Homeowner chooses their own solution
Cash issued: $7,600
Overview:
- No conversion work is done by Drake Landing Company (final disconnection from the system only).
- Homeowner agrees to complete work to transition their home by October 31, 2024.
Questions & Answers
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1. I have extra homeowners’ insurance to cover the replacement value of equipment and infrastructure that’s tied to my property. Am I free to cancel this coverage now that we know the wider system will be dismantled anyway?
Though not mandated, many Drake Landing Solar Community homeowners have additional insurance coverage to cover the replacement value of the components tied to their individual homes. While it’s up to each homeowner to decide when to cancel this coverage, the decommissioning of the Drake Landing Solar Community is a certainty. Additionally, it’s the very lack of suitable replacement parts on the market that has contributed to this decision.
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2. I pay $85 plus GST monthly to access the system. When will this fee be cancelled?
This fee will stop as soon as you are disconnected from the system and your final bill will be a pro-rated sum for the days used that month.
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3. I've already switched my home to a natural gas furnace. Will I be reimbursed for my costs?
Homeowners that have already converted their heating system will be reimbursed $7,600 – the same amount being offered as the Option D cash-in-kind payment. We will reach out to you to provide additional details soon.
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4. Will I need a permit to have a natural gas forced-air furnace installed? Who will be responsible for securing the permit?
The installer will pull the permit as part of installing the forced-air furnace in your home.
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5. I'm leaning towards Option B or C but have a finished basement. Does this mean my costs will be higher than a home with a more accessible space?
No. The Drake Landing Company has an agreement with the contractor for a set rate on Options A, B, and C, respectively. As a result, there will be no surprise costs – what is being offered to homeowners up front IS the only cost to convert your home.
However, work to convert homes with finished basements may take longer than those with a more accessible space.
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6. I chose this system because my environmental footprint is important to me. What will happen to the component parts as Drake Landing is dismantled? Will it end up in a landfill?
Where possible, the components will be recycled, although due to the types of equipment much of it is not directly usable in other applications.
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7. What if you can’t transition everyone in time for the winter season?
The Drake Landing Company is aiming to have all homes off the district system and converted to alternate heating by October 31, 2024, with full system decommissioning completed by end of 2025.
As individual households are disconnected from the system, heat outputs may be redistributed to support those remaining. It is important to note that this configuration does not mean that the system could remain viable if there were fewer homes tied to it, as the overall maintenance costs and lack of suitable parts will continue to be a problem. Rather, if unforeseen issues prevent all homes from being transitioned in time for the cold weather, the system should still function well enough to support the remaining homes.
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8. I know that I need to book an initial assessment prior to the actual heating conversion of my home. How long will this take and who do I contact to make the appointment?
The assessment of your home will take 30 minutes or less. We will reach out to all residents shortly to provide directions on the booking process.
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9. How long will it take to complete the conversion?
We will provide you with an estimated time to complete the work once we've assessed your home. Many factors are at play to determine the length of time required for each home’s conversion. This includes the individual option you select for your home as well as our ability to access the space (e.g., a finished basement will take longer to complete than an unfinished open space).
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10. I’m not happy with any of the three options available to transition my home. Are there any other options available? Can you just pay me out and I’ll find my own contractor to do the work?
There are elements of the conversion that the Drake Landing Company needs to complete for the proper disconnection and transition of the system. However, homeowners have additional flexibility in Option D to select their own installer and type of heating.
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11. What will happen to the land that the Energy Centre currently sits on?
The Energy Centre land and the adjacent greenspace containing the underground borehole thermal energy storage occupies approximately 0.75 acres. The land is currently zoned as Traditional Neighbourhood (TN). The primary intent of property zoned as TN is to provide a variety of primarily detached or side by side housing options. It is likely that once the Energy Centre has been removed that the land would be posted for sale. Some of the land will require subdivision, leaving some parkland space and allow for the continuation of the pathway system and the construction of new homes.