Read More about Innovate Energy
Premier, Locally Based Consortium
with Global Expertise
Through an open, fair and transparent procurement process, the Government of Canada selected Innovate Energy to design, build and operate a more modern and efficient district energy system in the National Capital Region.
This mandate is part of the Government of Canada’s Energy Services Acquisition Program (ESAP) whose goal is to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its own operations by 2030. The consortium partners are PCL Constructors Canada Inc., PCL Investments Canada Inc., Equans Services Canada and Black & McDonald – with the participation of WSP and bbb architects.
Members of the consortium have been partners in the past. Each collaborator has the expertise required to fulfill their respective components of the mandate, partnering with the Government of Canada to rehabilitate and green heating and cooling plants in the National Capital Region.
Through their combined resources and experience, the partners will deliver a unique, groundbreaking system that will make the Canadian government a world leader in the fight against climate change and the race to net zero carbon emissions.
PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
Established over a century ago in 1906, the PCL family of companies is a group of independent, employee-owned, construction companies that carry out work across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and in Australia. These diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in 31 major centres. PCL is the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Locally, PCL is based in the National Capital Region and employs over 250 full-time construction professionals. PCL’s consistent focus on sustainability over the years has resulted in a portfolio of work that demonstrates measurable benefits that help clients meet their goals for sustainability and cost effectiveness.
PCL Investments Canada Inc.
PCL Investments was established in 2014 to deepen the PCL family of companies’ commitment to the North American public-private partnerships/alternative financing and procurement (PPP/AFP) market by expanding its traditional design-builder role to include investing in projects as an equity member. PCL Investments closed its first equity investment (an Ontario hospital Design-Build-Finance-Maintain contract) in 2015. Since then, the company has closed eight additional equity investments across North America covering five Provinces, one State and spanning five different infrastructure sectors.
Equans Services Canada
Equans Services Canada is a facilities management solutions provider that prioritizes energy efficiency for private and public customers across North America. Their experts design, develop and manage smart, sustainable solutions for customers who trust Equans Services’ tailored solutions and specialists to operate and maintain their office towers, airports, hospitals, recreational and industrial facilities. Equans Services has both the structure and resources to carry out technically and financially complex and long-term projects. This capacity enables them to guarantee results and manage asset lifecycles to meet specific performance criteria with a focus on rationalizing energy use and reducing operational costs.
Equans Services is part of the Equans group, which designs, develops, and operates numerous District Heating and Cooling (DHC) networks across Europe. Whether in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Belgium, or elsewhere, Equans has extensive expertise and numerous references in this field.
Black & McDonald
Black & McDonald is an integrated, multi-trade service provider that safely delivers high quality construction, facilities management, and technical solutions.
With nearly 100 years of diverse market experience across North America, they are a forward-thinking organization with a strong track record of delivering customer-focused solutions and operational excellence.
Black & McDonald have the breadth of experience, capabilities, and resources to oversee full project and asset lifecycles from design and build through to maintenance and management. Across all their lines of business, their mission is to do work and build relationships that stand the test of time.
Black & McDonald Capital
Recently, B&M Capital was formed to participate and provide financing solutions for Canadian AFP projects. B&M entities have participated on several PPP/AFP pursuits including being shortlisted in a similar capacity. With offices in over 26 locations across North America, B&M and B&M Capital’s team includes professional staff of over 900 experienced professionals in Canada (over 1,200 in North America) and self-performing craft labour of 3,700 in Canada (over 4,700 in North America) across the finance/commercial, design & construction, facilities operations and asset management disciplines.
WSP
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firm, working with governments, businesses, architects and planners to provide integrated solutions across many disciplines. The firm provides services to transform the built environment and restore the natural environment, and its expertise ranges from environmental remediation to urban planning, from engineering iconic buildings to designing sustainable transport networks, and from developing the energy sources of the future to enabling new ways of extracting essential resources. WSP has approximately 48,000 employees globally, consisting of engineers, technicians, scientists and architects, as well as various environmental experts, based in more than 500 offices, across 40 countries, on every continent. With nearly 400 employees in the National Capital Region (NCR), WSP has the local presence and global expertise for the most demanding projects.
As a future-focused organization their reputation for innovative thinking, outstanding service, value enhancement, and environmental responsibility has been earned through participation on acclaimed projects around the world. By staying true to their core values – Innovation, Trustworthy, United, Passionate, and Caring – they maintain an enduring commitment to their clients, their staff, and their vision for a sustainable future. WSP engineers innovative solutions for all project phases relating to district heating and cooling distribution systems to help clients harness renewable and waste energy sources, as well as reduce network operating costs, demand on grids, and GHG emissions. WSP’s staff has particular experience in district energy systems, renewable energy, and distributed energy; with projects ranging in size and technology from 1MW reciprocating engines to 600MW combined cycle power plant (using gas turbines and steam turbines) to district energy systems (using engines, boilers, and chillers). Their services for energy projects range from initial planning and feasibility studies through to engineering and construction administration. They are active in a number of energy sectors including district energy, cogeneration, energy efficiency, renewable energies, electrical distribution and transmission systems and others.
bbb architects
bbb architects Ottawa Inc. (bbb) is a diversified architectural design studio, offering a full range of architectural services. The firm has had the good fortune of being awarded a wide range of large and prestigious commissions. From airports to convention centres, hospitals to research centres, from light rail transit systems to corporate and institutional headquarters. bbb has demonstrated, time and again, that learning about our clients’ businesses and listening to their aspirations is a recipe for success.
The diversity of the firm's work is intentional as they believe that research regarding clients' objectives and aspirations are essential to a successful design. No two clients are alike, and all deserve their full attention to create not only custom-made, but also aesthetic, functional and innovative solutions. While this may be an eccentric approach, over time it has provided the firm with a reputation for being passionate and innovative advocates for clients' programs and objectives.
Based in Ottawa, the firm's local work ranges from the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport passenger terminal to the dramatic Shaw Centre (formerly the Ottawa Convention Centre), from the technically complex Royal Ottawa Hospital to the re-design and expansion of the Rideau Centre. Currently, bbb is completing the Light Rail Transit Stations of Ottawa’s Confederation Line.
Dedicated to design excellence, bbb embraces an enduring and steadfast commitment to quality, which has been recognized by numerous awards, including a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, the Ontario Association of Architects’ Design Excellence and People’s Choice Awards, The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Urban Design Award, as well as the Canadian Design-Build Award of Excellence, and the Canadian Urban Institute’s National Award for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships.