COOLSHIFT CO₂ air-to-water heat pump at the University of British Columbia for emission reduction
UBCO relies on the CO₂-based COOLSHIFT: cutting emissions by 815 t CO₂ per year, replacing natural gas, and covering nearly the entire heating and cooling demand of the campus—efficient, sustainable, and future-proof!
Decarbonizing a low-temperature district energy system
How a CO₂ heat pump at a Canadian university helps cut campus emissions by 815 tons per year.
The University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) has set ambitious decarbonization goals and is working to modernize its thermal energy networks. The university’s low-temperature district energy system (LDES) distributes water at 8–25 °C through uninsulated PVC pipes to hydraulic heat pumps in connected buildings. These units extract heat from the LDES water loop for heating or reject heat for cooling.
When thermal loads are unbalanced, the system is supported by gas boilers, a connection to the medium-temperature district energy system (MDES), geothermal wells, and cooling towers. The annual heating demand of the LDES is 14,267 GJ, nearly 70% of which occurs when outdoor temperatures range between –5 °C and +5 °C.
UBCO has set a target to cut campus greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 2013. Since gas boilers are the largest source of emissions, their use must be drastically reduced. Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient way to electrify heating and cooling loads. However, conventional refrigerants such as HFCs pose a challenge due to their high global warming potential and increasing regulatory restrictions.
R744 (CO₂) provides a sustainable alternative with a GWP of just 1. It is non-toxic, non-flammable, safe under current regulations, and delivers excellent thermodynamic efficiency.
At UBCO, a 1.5 MW COOLSHIFT air-to-water heat pump was installed as the primary heat source for the LDES. The system operates mostly in subcritical mode, ensuring high efficiency and low operating costs.
During the summer months, the heat pump runs in transcritical mode and serves as an additional source of cooling, while high-efficiency cooling towers remain the primary source of chilled water.
-
Annual reduction of 815 tons of CO₂
-
Replacement of 430,000 m³ of natural gas
-
Supply of 14,000 GJ of heat (98.4% of LDES demand)
-
Coverage of 99.9% of cooling demand
-
Average annual COP of 3.5 (heating) and 3.6 (cooling)
-
Scalable to capacities of up to 2.5 MW
UBCO takes an important step toward campus decarbonization. CO₂ technology cuts fossil fuel use and ensures a sustainable, cost-efficient energy supply through 2030.
