OTTAWA – The National Capital Commission and Hydro Ottawa Group, in collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada through the Government of Canada’s Energy Services Acquisition Program, announced today a transformative 99-year district energy partnership for LeBreton Flats, establishing a new benchmark for sustainable urban development in the National Capital Region.

This landmark initiative brings a next-generation low-carbon district energy system to LeBreton Flats, leveraging the Energy Services Acquisition Program. The district energy system will substitute fragmented, individual building systems with a unified, more sustainable network that will provide heating and cooling directly to future buildings within the developing LeBreton Flats community.

The district energy system is a key step toward realizing the sustainability vision set out in the National Capital Commission’s LeBreton Flats Master Concept Plan. By delivering low-carbon energy to future residents, workers and visitors, the system reflects the National Capital Commission’s commitment to innovation, climate leadership and environmental sustainability. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen community resilience and support the long-term goal of creating a vibrant zero-carbon neighbourhood that will be home to approximately 11,000 new residents.

The NCC granted Hydro Ottawa the exclusive right to construct and operate the low-carbon district energy system throughout the National Capital Commission’s LeBreton Flats Master Concept Plan area. This partnership aligns directly with Hydro Ottawa’s 2026-2030 strategic direction, which prioritizes the expansion of district energy as a key business line to enable local decarbonization and advance the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero operations.

Quick facts

• Environmental leadership: By utilizing the Energy Services Acquisition Program (ESAP) district energy system, the infrastructure ensures that the vast majority of energy provided is derived from clean sources, directly supporting the collective goal of a low-carbon community.
• Scalable infrastructure: Designed to grow with the community, this 99-year agreement mandates the integration of future private developments—including the new future Ottawa Senatorsʼ major events centre—into this system, ensuring consistent energy standards district-wide.
• Resilience and value: By replacing multiple building-scale systems with a single, cleaner and more sustainable network, the partnership delivers long-term value for customers, maintains competitive energy costs and enhances the reliability and resilience of energy services across LeBreton Flats.

Quotes

“In towns and cities across the country, Canadians recognize the need for sustainable urban development, particularly with respect to energy consumption. District energy systems present a smart, long-term alternative to the aging, standalone systems that many of our buildings have relied on for generations. Through this new partnership with Hydro Ottawa Group, our government is ensuring that the rapidly growing LeBreton Flats area of Ottawa will emerge as one of Canada’s most low-carbon urban developments for decades to come.”

– Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant

“LeBreton Flats represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a sustainable, inclusive and forward-looking community in the heart of Canadaʼs Capital Region. This partnership will deliver a bold, low-carbon energy solution that supports the National Capital Commissionʼs environmental objectives and helps bring the vision of a sustainable community at LeBreton Flats to life.ˮ

– Tobi Nussbaum, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission

“This partnership underscores our commitment to building a resilient, innovative and sustainable grid within the National Capital Region. By deploying this district energy system, we are establishing a new benchmark for sustainable and cleaner energy in large-scale urban development, ensuring our infrastructure supports lasting environmental and economic value.”

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro Ottawa Group

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About the National Capital Commission
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is the federal Crown corporation dedicated to ensuring that Canadaʼs Capital is a dynamic and inspiring source of pride for Canadians and a legacy for future generations. As the National Capital Regionʼs long-term planner of federal lands and principal steward of nationally significant public places, and as a creative partner in development and conservation, the NCC works to shape and enhance the Capital through sustainable, innovative and inclusive city-building. The NCC manages an extensive portfolio of lands, parks, pathways, heritage assets and public spaces across the National Capital Region and is leading the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats into a vibrant mixed-use community that reflects the highest standards of sustainability and design excellence.

Learn more: ncc-ccn.gc.ca

About Hydro Ottawa Group
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. [operating under the brand ‘Hydro Ottawa Groupʼ] is a private company that is 100 per cent owned by the City of Ottawa and whose strategic business lines include electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. As a future-powered energy provider and partner in key green energy projects, the Hydro Ottawa Group is committed to innovation, community and sustainability. It owns and operates four primary subsidiary companies that drive its vision for a dynamic energy future: Hydro Ottawa Limited—a local distribution company that delivers electricity to approximately 377,000 customers in Ottawa and Casselman; Portage Power—the largest municipally-owned producer of renewable energy in the province of Ontario with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); Envari—an innovative energy solutions company offering products and services designed to improve energy efficiency and drive cost savings for municipalities, industrial and business clients, governments and utilities; and Hiboo Networks—a high-speed fibre-optic network solutions and internet services company focused on powering a strong digital future by providing secure and scalable connectivity for customers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Learn more: hydroottawagroup.com