Hamilton’s business community is turning industrial waste heat to energy

Hamilton is growing increasingly popular as a hot spot for arts and culture and craft beer. It’s also a “hot spot” for industrial carbon emissions in the region. Unlike other cities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, emissions from local manufacturing like steel production outweigh those from buildings and transportation (they make up about 68% of the city’s total emissions – see TAF’s regional GHG inventory). But Hamiltonians are exploring innovative low-carbon solutions while increasing their industrial competitiveness. TAF is supporting such innovation by providing $189,500 in grant funding over two years to the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce in a new waste heat diversion initiative in the city’s Bayfront Industrial Area.

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local manufacturers, McMaster University and the City of Hamilton, will first map out the sources of “waste heat” from various manufacturing industries, mostly steel-making, along the city’s industrial waterfront and determine the best uses for this heat. Based on the results it could be diverted toward heating nearby buildings, reducing energy use and carbon emissions needed to power those buildings, in turn reducing costs.

TAF gets extremely excited when the business community identifies the opportunity to achieve economic benefits by improving energy efficiency and reducing waste. Keanin Loomis, President and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes that “Hamilton’s industrial sector already exhibits world-leading manufacturing processes. Through identifying additional ways to optimize the use of waste heat, we can enhance the competitive advantage of Hamilton’s Bayfront Industrial Area while further reducing harmful emissions.”

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and its partners are demonstrating interest in spurring economic growth, healthy communities, and industrial competitiveness – important co-benefits of decreasing urban carbon emissions. This collaborative project is an exciting new opportunity for TAF to explore the business case for climate action in Hamilton’s industrial sector.

We’re following the carbon and looking for other innovative projects to fund in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Our next grant application deadline is February 22, 2019. If you have a low-carbon project idea in the region, find out more about our grants or get in touch here.