What is the ADEU?
The Alexandra District Energy Utility (ADEU) is the City of Richmond’s first district energy system, established in 2012 as part of its commitment to reducing community greenhouse gas emissions. As of 2025, the ADEU services over 2,200 residential units, 13 buildings, and 2.4 million square feet of floor space—including 314,000 square feet of commercial space and the first-ever Walmart connected to a district energy system.
The ADEU uses ground-source heat pumps and geo-exchange technology to extract energy from the earth. Its two geo-exchange fields contain 726 vertical loops, each approximately 76 metres (250 feet) deep, connected to 3.6 km of underground distribution piping throughout the West Cambie neighbourhood. Depending on seasonal demand, the system either extracts heat from the ground for heating or transfers excess heat back into the ground for cooling. The ADEU prioritizes geo-exchange energy and only supplements with natural gas boilers or cooling towers during the coldest and hottest days of the year.
Since its launch, the ADEU has undergone multiple expansions to meet growing demand. Upgrades to plant equipment and control systems were completed in 2024 to enhance serviceability and reliability, and a new building is expected to connect to the ADEU in 2026, continuing its growth and contribution to Richmond’s low-carbon future.
Service Area
The information shown on this map is true and complete as per the date printed on the map.
phases
ADEU starts operation after construction of the initial ADEU energy plant, the first geo-exchange field and the north loop of the distribution piping is completed.
More distribution piping is added, with more building connections
The second geo-exchange field is installed to keep up with energy demands; energy plant has been expanded. As well, three 1,500 kW gas boilers and two 2,550 kW fluid coolers are installed as backup for periods of peak demands. The south loop of distribution piping is completed.
Low-carbon air-source heat pumps are added to the system to service 284,000 square feet of retail space.
More distribution piping is added to allow for the construction of two additional geo-exchange fields. The two new geo-exchange fields are expected to be built over the next few years.
Plant equipment and control systems upgrades were completed in 2024. Enhancing system serviceability and reliability.
We anticipate that at full build-out, the ADEU will service 4.5 million square feet of space which includes 3,100 units of residential as well as commercial, office and institutional buildings.
rates
LIEC rates include all commodity costs, day-to-day maintenance and operating costs, and all DEU equipment replacement costs: you won’t need to ever worry about any on-going maintenance or end-of-life replacement costs for in-building energy generation equipment, such as boilers, chillers and cooling towers.
Gallery
Other Service Areas
