Cliff Heating Plant Update: Phase 2 of the temporary boiler plant construction is underway

Phase 2 of the temporary boiler plant construction is underway

March 2, 2010

Phase 1 of the construction of a temporary boiler plant adjacent to the Cliff Heating and Cooling Plant was completed in January; the four new boilers are operating and producing the steam required to heat the 52 buildings on the Cliff Plant distribution system. The Gatineau Plant continues to act as backup to the temporary plant.

Phase 2 of the temporary plant project is underway. Following a competitive tender process, PWGSC awarded PCL Constructors a contract in February for the addition of a superheated steam boiler section and the installation of three superheated steam boilers. Superheated steam produced by these boilers will be piped into the chiller section of the Cliff Heating and Cooling Plant to run the steam-driven turbine chillers. These chillers produce the chilled water used to cool federal buildings.

The superheated boilers will be operational by mid-April, in time for the beginning of the cooling season. The estimated cost of Phase 2 is $22.5 million, including design, construction and administration costs.

National Research Council Plant project to begin later this year

In February a competitive process was launched on Merx™ for a design–build contract to install at least two boilers and associated equipment at the National Research Council (NRC) Plant at 100 Sussex Drive. The contract will also include the installation of piping to connect the NRC Plant to the Cliff Plant distribution system. This project had been planned previously, but became a priority and was accelerated as a result of the Cliff Plant explosion. Once completed in February 2011, the NRC Plant will be able to replace the Gatineau Plant as backup to the Cliff Plant. To ensure a competitive process and best value to the Crown, the estimated cost of the project cannot be shared at this time.

Investments made to the Gatineau Plant following the October 19 explosion were critical in enabling PWGSC to meet the heating requirements of the buildings on the Cliff Plant distribution system until Phase 1 of the construction of the temporary boiler plant was completed. The NRC Plant currently does not have steam-producing equipment. However, due to the extensive upgrades that would be required to ensure the reliability of the piping connecting the Gatineau Plant with the Cliff Plant distribution system, and the greater heat loss associated with piping steam from Gatineau, the NCR Plant is a more economical and environmentally sustainable solution than the Gatineau Plan. Therefore, the accelerated NRC Plant development will continue. The Gatineau Plant will continue to heat the National Printing Bureau building in Gatineau.

Cliff Central Heating and Cooling Plant clean-up and rehabilitation

Asbestos removal in the boiler section of the Cliff Plant by PCL Constructors is expected to be complete by spring 2010, while removal of the damaged equipment and other clean-up activities are expected to be completed by fall 2010. The total cost is estimated to be $19 million. An options analysis is being carried out by third-party consulting engineers to recommend the most appropriate direction for the long-term rehabilitation of the Cliff Plant.

Finding a long-term solution to the Government’s heating and cooling needs in the National Capital Area

Meanwhile, the Energy Services Acquisition Program (ESAP)—an initiative to transform how Government acquires and delivers heating, cooling and energy for its buildings in the National Capital Area—continues. Detailed consultations with leaders from across the energy services industry were conducted to help determine the best course of action for these services and associated infrastructure.

Regardless of the direction that Government will take as a result of its Energy Services Acquisition Program, investments must be made to restore full heating and cooling capacity to the Cliff distribution system to ensure it can support the continuing operations of Parliament and central government functions on a year-round basis.

Investigations into the cause of the October 19, 2009 incident are ongoing.

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Previous updates on this subject can be found on PWGSC’s Web site.

For more information, contact:

Public Works and Government Services Canada
Media Relations
819-956-2315