Markham District Energy Chooses Copeland’s Ammonia Heat Pumps for Historic Wastewater Facility

Markham District Energy (MDE), Canada's rapidly expanding district energy utility, has partnered with Copeland to supply Vilter VQ95 single-screw ammonia industrial heat pumps for the world’s largest wastewater energy transfer facility. This cutting-edge system, located at the Low Carbon Energy Centre in downtown Markham, Ontario, aims to revolutionize energy use by harnessing wastewater for sustainable heating and cooling, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

The innovative design of the facility, which will significantly cut carbon emissions by over 30,000 tonnes annually - equivalent to removing approximately 7,000 cars from the road - demonstrates MDE’s dedication to sustainable energy practices. It also highlights Copeland's position as a leader in advanced heat pump technology.

The facility operates by tapping into a typically unused energy stream: sewage wastewater. This water is captured at around 5°C and efficiently converted to usable heat at 95°C, which distinguishes it from standard applications. The integration within an 8-foot underground sewage pipeline allows for large-scale water heating and cooling, enhancing energy recovery from waste, unlike traditional systems that utilize ambient air or ground heat.

Copeland is scheduled to deliver the industrial heat pumps by mid-summer 2025, with full operational capacity expected by January 2026.