Coming to Hamilton in September — a TENs Project Implementation Workshop

September 28-28, 2026 | Hamilton, Ontario

Moving from Thermal Energy Network ambitions to cutting the ribbon on a real-world project is one of the biggest challenges facing municipalities and Indigenous communities working toward a cleaner energy future.

Co-hosted by de QUEST Canada and the Building Decarbonization Alliance, this TENs Project Initiation Workshop is designed to bridge that gap—offering practical tools, tailored coaching, and direct access to funders and technical experts. The two-day workshop in Hamilton is for municipal staff and Indigenous community leaders across Canada who are actively dreaming about developing a local thermal energy network project.

Whether you’re exploring district energy, waste heat recovery, geo-exchange, and heat pump-based systems, the workshop is designed to move your project closer to implementation.

Who Should Attend? This workshop is designed for Indigenous community and municipal staff members involved in:

• Sustainable community energy initiatives
• Project planning, financial management, policy, and economic development roles

Why Attend? Through hands-on sessions, participants will advance their own community energy project concepts—refining scopes, strengthening financial strategies, and identifying clear next steps. You’ll also connect with clean-tech providers, peers, and funders who can support your goals.

Participants will leave with:

• A refined TENs project scope and clear critical path
• An initial financial model and detailed funding strategy
• A solid plan for hiring contractors and managing project execution
• Increased confidence to implement a thermal energy project and navigate the challenges
• A strong network of funders, consultants, and solution providers to support future development

This event builds on QUEST Canada’s successful 2024 les Collectivités éco-énergétiques intelligentes engagement model and offers deeper dives into technical design, contracting, policy, and financing. Travel support is available for eligible participants, with a focus on rural and remote communities.

Registration is exclusive; open only to staff and leadership from Indigenous communities and municipalities across Canada.

Participate in the TENs Project Accelerator Cohort

QUEST Canada, with the support of the Building Decarbonization Alliance, is launching the TENs Project Accelerator Cohort — a structured, multi-phase initiative to help 6 – 10 Canadian communities translate readiness and interest into implementable projects.

TENs Community Project Accelerator cohort participants will work with BDA’s TENs support toolkit, policy toolkit, and opportunity scorecard, stress-test their concept’s financial and technical assumptions, and leverage QUEST’s community accelerator facilitation model, to break through internal roadblocks, refine their project’s scope, and map out a clear funding strategy that builds local leadership confidence.

Interested in Sponsoring? Align your organization with Canada’s sustainable energy future and connect with municipal and Indigenous energy project leaders driving local implementation. Sponsorship oppenings provide high-value exposure, meaningful engagement, and a chance to support innovative energy solutions. To learn more and get involved, please review our sponsorship package and contact: Melissa Schweyer @QUESTCanada.

Thank You Partners, Funders and Sponsors. This event is made possible through their generous support and ongoing commitment to the development of TENs technology and real-world community projects in Canada.